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Most American Indians (3600,000) lived west of the Mississippi River and did not own land. Some were nomadic hunters and other established permanent villages.
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Luke Lea, the Burea of Indian Affairs Commisioner, declared that American Indians should "be placed in positions where they can be controlled and finally complelled by stern neccessity to resort to agricultural labor or starve."
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The Treaty of Fort Laramie guarunteed American Indian land rights on the Great Plains.
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Thomas Fitz Patrick, and Indian agent who helped negotiate several treaties, commeneded the notion of a reservation system as "expensive, vicious, (and) inhumane."
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American Indians surrendered much of their land in an 1855 treaty and agreed to remain on a reservation.
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A government agent refused to release food supplies even thought people were starving. The Sioux attacked the Indian agecy, nearby farms, and towns. Thirty-eight Sioux were executed. The tribe was relocated to the Dakota Territory and then to Nebraska.
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Cheyenne and Arapano forces clashed with the local militia thorough the summer.
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Government foreccd the Seminomadic Apache in New Mexico and Arizona to settle on the San Caros Reservation.
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The government voilated the terms of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Lramie by sending an army expedition into the Black Hills to serch for gold.
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In the spring of 1876 thosands of Sioux and their Cheyenne allies were camped on Rosebud Creek in Southern Montanna.
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In the summer the Indians battled a larger army. Although they did not achieve an outright victory, it gave them confidence in their ability to fight US soldiers.
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The morning of June 25, 1876 Lietenant George Armstrong Custer snd abut 600 members of the US army 7th Calvary reached American Indian Camp
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Army troops moved into territory. Apache leader Geronimo fled te reservation with about 75 followers
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Geronimo surrenderedand briefly aaccepted reservation life
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US government permitted some to return to the reservation in Idaho, but sent chief Joseph and some 150 others to a reservation in Washington state
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Geronimo and more than 130 followers escaped and resumed their raids on settlements
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geronimo and his followers, outnumbered, gave up.
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A skirmish broke out and 14 Indians were killed including Sitting Bull
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Army troops found Big Foot and some 350 members of his group.