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Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was signed by President Andrew Jackson in an attempt to remove the Natives from their lands so that the Americans could take them. It was strongly supported in the South. The painting on the left shows the infamous "Trail of Tears", a road that the Natives traveled to reach their new home. -
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Americans Begin Westward Settling
In the early 1840s, the Native Americans began to notice settlers work their way west on the same trail every summer. -
Treaty of Fort Laramie
Hailing from the northern plains, representatives from 9 different Native tribes were invited to Fort Laramie to sign a Treaty to ensure the safe passage of American travelers through Native land. The Natives were to be compensated $50,000 a year for 50 years for allowing safe passage and permission to let Americans build forts and roads on their land. However, the US Senate later reduced the time from 50 years to 10. -
Beginning of "Indian Wars"
After a Native killed a Mormon's cow, the owner refused compensation for the cow and had the army go after the cow killer. It wasn't long until miscommunication sparked a fight in which there were casualties on both sides. This became to be known as the Grattan Massacre and the start of the American Indian Wars. -
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Sioux Wars
Comprised of a series of clashes between the US and the Sioux (Lakota), this lasted until the Wounded Knee Massacre. Following the Wounded Knee Massacre, major open battles between the Americans and the Sioux ceased. -
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Bozeman Trail
Paved by John Bozeman, this trail ran through Indian territory and led to gold fields near the present day Virginia City, Nevada. This trail brought many hopeful prospectors who would inevitably clash with the local natives. -
Colorado Militia Attack Cheyenne/Arapaho Camp
As a result of the traffic caused by the Bozeman Trail, there was an increase in US military activity in this general area. On this day, a Cheyenne and Arapaho camp along Sand Creek was attacked by Colorado militia and killed over 200 natives. This attack would be responsible for initiating a Cheyenne/Arapaho/Lakota alliance that was determined to avenge their brothers. -
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Red Cloud's War
Officially stared in 1866, but there were some skirmishes between the Americans and the Lakota/Northern Cheyenne/Arapaho alliance after the attack at the Cheyenne/Arapaho camp in 1864. Ended with the second Treaty of Fort Laramie. -
Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868)
Summoned for a second time to Fort Laramie, the natives of the Wyoming Territory signed a Treaty that guaranteed the Lakota the Black Hills and hunting rights in South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana until the buffalo were gone. Ultimately, the Natives were to receive provisions from the US and see the removal of US forts in their territory at the expense of being confined to a smaller area. -
Gold Found in Black Hills
During an expedition in the Black Hills in 1874, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and his troops explored the area and stumbled upon traces of gold. News spread back home quickly and before you could say "Sacagawea", the Black Hills became the place to be for hopeful American prospectors. This led to an increase of white tresspassers in the area. -
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Great Sioux War of 1876
AKA "The Black Hills War" & "The Great Cheyenne War"
This war was the result of the sudden surge of white men entering Indian lands searching for gold. It was during this time period that Custer gave his life at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. At the end of the war, the tribe leaders gave up the Black Hills to the US. -
Wounded Knee Massacre
The massacre at Wounded Knee is considered the last battle between white soldiers and Native Americans. It was here where at least 250 Sioux, mostly women and children, were murdered by US troops.
