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Reservation
The federal government had passed an act that designated the enitre Great Plains as one enormous reservation. -
Specific Reservations
The government changed its policy and created treaties that defined specific boundaries for each tribe. -
Massacre at Sand Creek
Chivington and his troops descended on the Cheyenne and Arapaho (about 200 warriors and 500 woman and children) camped at Sand Creek. The attack at dawn killed over 150 inhabitants, mostly woman and children. -
Death on the Bozeman Trail
The warrior Crazy Horse ambushed Captain William J. Fetterman and his company at Lodge Trail Ridge. Over 80 soldiers were killed. -
The Treaty of Fort Laramie
Skirtmishes continued until the government agreed to close the Bozeman Trail. In return, the Treaty of Fort Laramie, in which the Sioux agreed to live on a reservation aloneg the Missouri River, was forced on the leaders of the Sioux. -
Gold Rush
George A. Custer reported that the Black Hills had gold. This was the start of the gold rush. -
Period: to
Red River War
The U.S. Army responded by herding the people of friendly tribeds onto reservations while opening fire on all others. The army crushed resistance on the southern plains. -
Custer's Last Stand
When Colonel Custer and his troops reached the Little Bighorn River, the Native Americans were ready for them. Led by Crazy Horse, Gall, and Sitting Bull. The warriors outfalnked and crushed Custer;s troops. Within an hour, Custer and all of his men were beaten. -
The Dawes Act
Congress passed the Dawes Act aiming to "Americanize" the Natice Americans. The act broke up the reservations and gave some of the reservation land to individual Native American. -
The Destruction of the Buffalo
The most significant blow tot ribal life on the plains was the destruicton of the buffalo.
