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Homestead Act 1862
The Homestead Act was established during the Civil war in 1862. It said that any adult citizen, or intended citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. government could claim 160 acres of surveyed government land. The people were required to improve the land. This was a big promoter of western expansion. -
Exodusters
Former slaves leaving the south to go west largely because of Homestead Act. Also helped on the railroad. -
Pacific Railroad act of 1862
This act, passed on July 1, 1862, provided Federal subsidies in land and loans for the construction of a transcontinental railroad across the United States. The legislation authorized two railroad companies, the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific, to construct the lines. Led to Morrill Land-Grant act because of large population coming west. -
Morrill Land-Grant Act 1862
United States statutes that allowed for the creation of land-grant colleges in U.S. states using the proceeds of federal land sales. Took up lots of land which was originally Native Americans. This caused lots of tension which led to battles. -
Sand Creek Massacre
Peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians were massacred by an assault let by John Chivington. Was the killing as one of the last peaceful groups of Indians. This caused lots of hatred from Indian tribes to the US and the Medicine Lodge Treaty was signed for more peace between groups. -
Medicine Lodge Treaty, Chief Satanta, 1868
The treaty where the United States promised the tribes peace and protection from white intruders in return for amity and relocation to reservations in western Indian Territory. The Senate ratified the treaties in July 1868. Chief Satanta was a Kiowa war chief. He was a member of the Kiowa tribe. Native Americans were put on relatively small pieces of land and when gold was found 49ers invaded on the Natives' land. -
Crazy Horse and Red Cloud, Fort Laramie Treaty 1868
A treaty with the Sioux to bring peace between the whites and the Sioux who agreed to settle within the Black Hills reservation in the Dakota Territory. Crazy Horse was a Lakota war leader of the Oglala band in the 19th century that is knows for fighting against encroachment by American settlers. Red Cloud was one of the most important leaders of the Oglala Lakota from 1868 to 1909. He was one of the most powerful American Indian opponent to the US. Resentment of encroachment caused tension. -
Bureau of Indian Affairs ~ Boarding Schools
Founded boarding schools for Native-Americans. The schools were very harsh or even deadly. Kids were forced out of their families when they were young to come to the schools. -
Great Sioux War, 1876-1881
Started because gold was found in the Black Hills. Lots of people started to come in and encroach on Native American land. It was a series of battles and negotiations between the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and the United States. One of the famous battles for Native Americans was The Battle of Little Bighorn. -
Little Big Horn, 1876
A famous victory for the Native American Indians and crushing defeat that led to the deaths of General George Custer and his US Army battalion. Also known as Custer's last stand. Sparked motivation in leaders like Chief Joseph to take a stand against the US. -
Chief Joseph 1877
A leader of the Wallowa band of the Nez Perce Tribe. He became famous in 1877 for leading his people on a flight across the Rocky Mountains. His flight led to acts to change treatment of Native Americans. -
Dawes Severalty Act, 1887
This was an act to provide for the allotment of lands to Indians on the various reservations. This act emphasized severalty which was the treatment of Native Americans as individuals rather than members of tribes like before. Resistance of act taking some more land from Native Americans caused problems with the US. -
Massacre at Wounded Knee, 1890
A massacre of several hundred Lakota Indians, almost half of whom were women and children, by soldiers of the United States Army.
