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Creation of the first reservation
The federal government passed an act that designated the entire Great Plains as one enormous reservation, or land set aside for the Native American tribes. -
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Gov't create smaller reservations
The government changed its reservation policy and created treaties that defined specific boundaries for each tribe. -
Massacre at Sand Creek
One of the most tragic events to happen in 1864. Most of Cheyenne, assuming they were under protection of the U.S. government, had peacefully returned to Colorado's sand creek reserve for the winter. General S. R. Curtis sent troops to attack 700 natives, killing 150. -
Death on the Bozeman Trail
The warrior Crazy Horse ambushed Captaiin William J. Fetterman and his company at the Lodge Trail Ridge. Over 80 soldiers were killed. Natives call this the Ballte of the Hundred Slain. -
Treaty of Fort Laramie
An agreement in which the Sioux agreed to live on a reservation along the Missouri River, was forced on the leaders of the Sioux in 1868. Sitting Bull (Tatanka Iyotanka), leader of the Hunkpapa sioux never signed it. Even though the Ogala and Brule Sioux did sign the treay, they expected to use their traditional hunting grounds. -
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Red River War
In late 1868, war broke out between the Kiowa and the Comanche. The U.S. Army responded by herding the people of the friendly tribes and opening fire on the others. General Philip Sheridan, a Union Army Veteran, gave orders "to destroy their villages and ponies, to kill and hang all warriors, and to bring back all women and children." With such tactics, the army crushed any resistance on the southern plains. -
Custer's Last Stand
In early june 18876, the Sioux and Cheyenne held a sun dance, during which Sitting Bull had a vision of soldiers and some Native Americans falling from their horses. When Colonel Custer and his troops reached Little Bighorn River, the Natives were ready for them.
Led by Crazy Horse, Gall, and Sitting Bull, the warriors- with raised spears and rifles- outflanked and crushed Custer's troops. Within the hour, Custer and all of the men in the Seventh Cavalry were dead. -
The Dawes Act
Congress passed this act to try to "Americanize" the natives. The act broke up the reservations and gave some of the reservation land to the individual Native Americans-160 acres to each head and 80 acres to each unmarried adult. The government would sell the rest to settlers and he resulting income would be used by the natives to buy farm implements. By 1932, white men had taken almost 2/3 of the territory set aside for the natives and the natives received no money. -
The Battle of Wounded Knee
The Seventh Cavalry- Custer's old regiment-rounded up about 350 starving and freezing Sioux and took them to a camp at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota. The next day, the soldiers demanded that the natives give up their weapons. A shot was fired, from which side is unknown. The soldiers opened fire with deadly cannon. Within minutes, te Seventh Cavalry slaughtered as many as 300 mostly unarmed Native Americans, including several children. The bodies were left to freeze to the ground. This even
