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Government Passes Act
The federal government passed an act that designated the entire Great Plains as one enormous reservation. This decision was influenced by westward expansion of settlers and railroads. -
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Government changes policy and creates treaties
Government changed its policy and created treaties that defined specific boundaries for each tribe. Most Native Americans didn't listen to these treaties and continued to hunt on their traditional land. They clashed with settlers and miners with tragic results. -
Massacre at Sand Creek
A tragic event caused by General S.R. Curtis sending a telegram to Colonel John Chivington that read, "I want no peace until the indians suffer more." Chivington and his troops responded by attacking about 700 Cheyenne and Arapaho indians that camped at sand creek. 150 were killed. They were mostly women and children. -
Battle of the Hundred Slain/Fetterman Massacre
Crazy Horse ambushed Captain William J. Fetterman and his company at Lodge Trail Ridge (along Bozeman Trail). Over 80 soldiers were killed. -
Treaty of Fort Laramie
SKirmishes continued on the Bozeman trail until the government closed it. In return, the Treaty of Fort Laramie, in which the Sioux agreed to live on reservation along MO RIver, was forced on the Sioux leaders. Sitting Bull (Hunkpapa Sioux) never signed it. Oglala and Brule Sioux did sign it but expected to use same hunting lands. THis was only a temporary halt to warfare. -
War broke out again
In late 1868, war broke out yet again as the Kiowa and Comanche engaged in 6 years of raiding that finally led to the Red River War that lasted from 1874-1875 -
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Red River War
If the tribe was friendly, government would escort them onto reservation. If tribe wasn't friendly, they opened fire on them. General Philip Sheridan wanted to destroy everything the tribe hsd except women and children. With this tactic, the army crushed resistance on the Southern plain. army crushed resistance on southern plains. -
Custer's Last Stand
Sitting Bull had a vision of fighting between troops and Native Americans. WHen the troops reached the Little Big Horn River, the Native AMericans were ready for them. Led by Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, and Gall, the Native AMericans outflanked and killed Custer and all his men. By late 1876, the Sioux were beaten. THey had to take refuge in Canada. -
The Dawes Act
Congress passed the Dawes Act aiming to "Americanize" the Native Americans. Act broke up reservation land. 160 went to each head of household. 80 acres to each unmarried adult. Then, government sold remainder of reservation land to settlers. By 1932, settlers receieved 2/3 of land set aside for Native American reservations. The land sold by government was supposed to go to Native Americans to use for buying farm tools. They receieved no money from the sales of the land. -
Battle of Wounded Knee
The 7th regiment rounded up about 350 cold and starving Native Americans and took them to a camp in Wounded Knee, SD. The soldiers demanded the Native Americans give up their weapons. A shot was fired (no one knows which side). The soldiers opened fire with deadly fire. Within 7 minutes, 300 Indians were slaughtered bringing the Indian wars to a bitter end.
