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Great Plains
The federal government had passed an act that designated the entire Great Plains as one enormous reservation. -
Gov. Policy
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. The attack killed over 150 inhabitants, mostly women and children. -
Crazy Horse
The warrior Crazy Horse ambushed Captain William J. Fetterman and his company at Lodge Trail Ridge. -
Treaty of Fort Laramie
Skirmished continued until the government agreed to close the Bozeman Trial. In return, the Treaty of Fort Laramie was forced on the leaders of the Sioux. -
Red River War
War broke out again as the Kiowa and Comanche engaged in six years of raiding that finally led to the Red River War of 1874-1875. -
Gold Rush
Colonel George A. Custer reported that the Black Hills had gold "from the grass roots down", a gold rush was on. -
Custer's Last Stand
Led by Crazy Horse, Gall, and Sitting Bull, the warriors outflanked and crushed Custer’s troops. Within an hour, Custer and all of his men of the Seven Cavalry were dead. By late 1876 the Sioux were beaten. Sitting Bull and a few followers took refuge in Canada. -
The Dawes Act
Congress passed the Dawes Act aiming to "Americanize" the Native Americans. The act broke up the reservation land to individual Native Americans. -
Buffalo and Sitting Bulls death
In 1800, 65 million buffalo roamed the plains; by 1890 , fewer than 1000 remained. The Ghost Dance movement spread among 25,000 Sioux on the Dakota reservation. Alarmed military leaders ordered the arrest of Sitting Bull. In December 1890, about 40 Native American police were sent to arrest him. Sitting Bull’s friend and bodyguard shot one of them. Then the police killed Sitting Bull.