The Indian The Indian WarsWars

11stst Treaty of Fort Treaty of Fort LaramieLaramie

In 1851, eight In 1851, eight Native American Native American groups agreed to groups agreed to specific limited specific limited geographic geographic boundaries in boundaries in return for the U.S. return for the U.S. government government promising to honor promising to honor those boundaries those boundaries foreverforever

Settlers Move Into the Settlers Move Into the Great PlainsGreat Plains

Settlers, however, ignored Settlers, however, ignored the treaties and the federal the treaties and the federal government had no way to government had no way to enforce the boundariesenforce the boundaries

The Plains Indians were The Plains Indians were slowly forced to move slowly forced to move further west of the further west of the Mississippi, while settlers in Mississippi, while settlers in California and Oregon began California and Oregon began pushing the West Coast pushing the West Coast tribes back towards the easttribes back towards the east

Natives began to be Natives began to be deprived of their hunting deprived of their hunting groundsgrounds

Occasionally, Indian groups Occasionally, Indian groups would resist or retaliate would resist or retaliate against settlersagainst settlers

The BuffaloThe Buffalo The Plains Indians The Plains Indians

relied on the relied on the buffalo as their buffalo as their primary source of primary source of food, clothing, & food, clothing, & sheltershelter

As more settlers As more settlers entered the plains, entered the plains, the buffalo began the buffalo began to disappearto disappear

The Buffalo Near ExtinctionThe Buffalo Near Extinction

Settlers killed the animals to Settlers killed the animals to protect their cropsprotect their crops

Professional hunters killed Professional hunters killed many for their hides which many for their hides which were used for both clothing were used for both clothing and industrial purposesand industrial purposes

Sport hunters killed many Sport hunters killed many just for entertainmentjust for entertainment

Railroad companies hired Railroad companies hired sharpshooters to kill buffalo sharpshooters to kill buffalo to keep them from blocking to keep them from blocking or damaging the tracksor damaging the tracks

The U.S. Army killed many to The U.S. Army killed many to deprive the Indians of food, deprive the Indians of food, forcing the Natives onto forcing the Natives onto government reservationsgovernment reservations

Dakota Sioux Dakota Sioux UprisingUprising

The Dakota Sioux had The Dakota Sioux had agreed to stay on a agreed to stay on a reservation in Minnesota; in reservation in Minnesota; in return, the government had return, the government had agreed to make annual agreed to make annual payments to the Indians on payments to the Indians on the reservationthe reservation

Corrupt traders and Corrupt traders and reservation officials, reservation officials, however, often cheated the however, often cheated the Indians out of their Indians out of their annuitiesannuities

In 1862, Congress delayed In 1862, Congress delayed paying the annuities due to paying the annuities due to the Civil War, resulting in the Civil War, resulting in widespread hunger among widespread hunger among the Dakota Siouxthe Dakota Sioux

Chief Little CrowChief Little Crow Asked the traders to sell Asked the traders to sell

the Sioux food on credit the Sioux food on credit until the annuities were until the annuities were paid by the governmentpaid by the government

The traders refused; The traders refused; one replied “let them one replied “let them eat grass or their own eat grass or their own dung”dung”

In desperation, the In desperation, the Sioux took up armsSioux took up arms

Little Crow tried to limit Little Crow tried to limit the violence, but angry the violence, but angry Indians killed hundreds Indians killed hundreds of white settlers before of white settlers before federal troops arrivedfederal troops arrived

Sioux Uprising Sioux Uprising EndsEnds

Military courts Military courts sentenced 307 Dakota sentenced 307 Dakota Sioux to death for Sioux to death for their roles in the their roles in the uprising, but President uprising, but President Lincoln later reduced Lincoln later reduced the number to just 38the number to just 38

Outraged, many of the Outraged, many of the Sioux left Minnesota Sioux left Minnesota and took refuge in the and took refuge in the unsettled Dakota unsettled Dakota TerritoryTerritory

Sand Creek Massacre Sand Creek Massacre (1864)(1864)

The government forced the The government forced the Cheyenne Indians to surrender Cheyenne Indians to surrender territory, violating the 1territory, violating the 1stst Treaty of Ft. LaramieTreaty of Ft. Laramie

The Cheyenne retaliated by The Cheyenne retaliated by attacking settlements in attacking settlements in ColoradoColorado

Colorado’s governor ordered Colorado’s governor ordered the Cheyenne to surrender or the Cheyenne to surrender or face serious consequencesface serious consequences

Cheyenne under Chief Black Cheyenne under Chief Black Kettle arrived at Ft. Lyon to Kettle arrived at Ft. Lyon to negotiate a peace treatynegotiate a peace treaty

U.S. forces attacked the U.S. forces attacked the unsuspecting Cheyenne at unsuspecting Cheyenne at Sand Creek, killing about 270, Sand Creek, killing about 270, including women and children including women and children in retaliation for the in retaliation for the Cheyenne’s earlier attacks on Cheyenne’s earlier attacks on settlerssettlers

Lakota Sioux Vow to Lakota Sioux Vow to Defend Their TerritoryDefend Their Territory

After having trouble After having trouble with the Dakota Sioux with the Dakota Sioux and Cheyenne, the U.S. and Cheyenne, the U.S. Army began to patrol Army began to patrol into the Great Plains to into the Great Plains to prevent other tribes prevent other tribes from organizingfrom organizing

The nomadic Lakota The nomadic Lakota Sioux were determined Sioux were determined to defend their to defend their territory against territory against incursion by both white incursion by both white settlers and the U.S. settlers and the U.S. ArmyArmy

The Fetterman Massacre The Fetterman Massacre (1866)(1866)

U.S. Army Capt. William U.S. Army Capt. William Fetterman and 80 Fetterman and 80 soldiers were lured out of soldiers were lured out of their fort along the their fort along the Bozeman Trail in Bozeman Trail in Wyoming by the Lakota Wyoming by the Lakota Sioux under Chief Red Sioux under Chief Red CloudCloud

They soldiers rode into a They soldiers rode into a carefully planned ambush carefully planned ambush and were wiped out by and were wiped out by the Lakota; the ambush the Lakota; the ambush triggered two years of triggered two years of open warfare between open warfare between the Army and the Siouxthe Army and the Sioux

Red CloudRed Cloud 1822 – 19091822 – 1909 Chief of the Lakota SiouxChief of the Lakota Sioux Led the Sioux in Red Led the Sioux in Red

Cloud’s War (1866-68)Cloud’s War (1866-68) Later traveled to Later traveled to

Washington and met Washington and met with President Grantwith President Grant

Did not take part in later Did not take part in later Sioux uprisings, instead Sioux uprisings, instead pursuing peaceful efforts pursuing peaceful efforts at protecting tribal at protecting tribal territoryterritory

The Indian Peace The Indian Peace CommissionCommission

Formed by Congress in 1867, the Formed by Congress in 1867, the Commission toured the Great Commission toured the Great Plains trying to identify how the Plains trying to identify how the conflict between Native tribes conflict between Native tribes and settlers could be resolved and settlers could be resolved peacefully; they concluded the peacefully; they concluded the problems were due to incursions problems were due to incursions by settlers into Indian territoryby settlers into Indian territory

The Commission proposed The Commission proposed creating 2 large reservations on creating 2 large reservations on the plains which would be the plains which would be managed by agents of the managed by agents of the federal Bureau of Indian Affairsfederal Bureau of Indian Affairs

The US Army would be given full The US Army would be given full authority to deal with Indians authority to deal with Indians who did not move to the who did not move to the reservationsreservations

The plan failed due to resistance The plan failed due to resistance from the Indians, who had never from the Indians, who had never agreed to cooperateagreed to cooperate

22ndnd Treaty of Ft. Laramie Treaty of Ft. Laramie (1868)(1868)

Also called the Sioux Also called the Sioux Treaty of 1868Treaty of 1868

Guaranteed the Lakota Guaranteed the Lakota ownership of the Black Hills ownership of the Black Hills in the Dakotas, as well as in the Dakotas, as well as hunting rights elsewherehunting rights elsewhere

Gold miners quickly Gold miners quickly violated the treaty, violated the treaty, triggering later uprisingstriggering later uprisings

In 1980, The Lakota tribe In 1980, The Lakota tribe sued the government for sued the government for violating the treaty, violating the treaty, winning $120 million in winning $120 million in damages; the Lakota damages; the Lakota refused the money and refused the money and continue to press the continue to press the courts to instead return courts to instead return their landtheir land

Chief Crazy HorseChief Crazy Horse 1840 – 18771840 – 1877 Chief of the Lakota Chief of the Lakota

SiouxSioux Had taken part in Had taken part in

the Fetterman the Fetterman MassacreMassacre

Led the Sioux to Led the Sioux to their greatest victory their greatest victory against the US Army against the US Army at the Battle of Little at the Battle of Little Big Horn in 1876Big Horn in 1876

George Armstrong George Armstrong CusterCuster

1839 – 18761839 – 1876 Civil War veteranCivil War veteran Graduated last in his Graduated last in his

class at West Pointclass at West Point Flamboyant Army officer Flamboyant Army officer

whose career was whose career was marked by scandals and marked by scandals and a failed effort to accept a failed effort to accept command of the command of the Mexican Army under Mexican Army under Benito JuarezBenito Juarez

Sent by his Sent by his commanders to fight commanders to fight Indians to get him away Indians to get him away from Washington D.C.from Washington D.C.

Battle of Little Big Battle of Little Big HornHorn

““Custer’s Last Stand”Custer’s Last Stand” June 25, 1876June 25, 1876 Despite being greatly Despite being greatly

outnumbered, Custer outnumbered, Custer decided to launch an attack decided to launch an attack against a group of 2500 against a group of 2500 Sioux & CheyenneSioux & Cheyenne

The Indians repulsed the The Indians repulsed the attack, then surrounded attack, then surrounded Custer’s detachment and Custer’s detachment and killed him and all 210 of his killed him and all 210 of his menmen

This was the largest Indian This was the largest Indian victory in the Indian Wars; victory in the Indian Wars; it was also, unfortunately, it was also, unfortunately, their lasttheir last

Chief Crazy HorseChief Crazy Horse• Following Little Big Horn, Following Little Big Horn,

Crazy Horse and his Sioux Crazy Horse and his Sioux were convinced to were convinced to surrender to U.S. troopssurrender to U.S. troops

• Crazy Horse was arrested Crazy Horse was arrested while attempting to while attempting to negotiate a peace negotiate a peace settlement; in a struggle settlement; in a struggle with his guards, he was with his guards, he was stabbed to deathstabbed to death

• In 1948, construction In 1948, construction began in South Dakota on began in South Dakota on a monument to Crazy a monument to Crazy Horse Horse

The Ghost DanceThe Ghost Dance The Lakota had finally The Lakota had finally

relented in 1877 and settled relented in 1877 and settled on a reservation under Chief on a reservation under Chief Sitting BullSitting Bull

The Lakota had begun The Lakota had begun performing a ritual known as performing a ritual known as the Ghost Dance, a the Ghost Dance, a celebration of a hoped-for day celebration of a hoped-for day when the white settlers would when the white settlers would disappear, the buffalo would disappear, the buffalo would return, and all of the Indian’s return, and all of the Indian’s dead ancestors would come dead ancestors would come back from the deadback from the dead

In 1890, federal agents In 1890, federal agents ordered an end to the Ghost ordered an end to the Ghost Dance, believing that it was Dance, believing that it was preventing the Sioux from preventing the Sioux from peacefully assimilating into peacefully assimilating into American society, but the American society, but the Lakota ignored the orderLakota ignored the order

Sitting BullSitting Bull 1831 – 18901831 – 1890 Sioux Holy man, and one Sioux Holy man, and one

of the Sioux leaders at of the Sioux leaders at the Battle of Little Big the Battle of Little Big HornHorn

Sitting Bull was blamed Sitting Bull was blamed for the Lakota’s defiance for the Lakota’s defiance over the Ghost Dance over the Ghost Dance and was ordered and was ordered arrestedarrested

Police were sent to Police were sent to arrest Sitting Bull, but arrest Sitting Bull, but his supporters resisted; his supporters resisted; a gun battle broke out a gun battle broke out and Sitting Bull and 13 and Sitting Bull and 13 others were killedothers were killed

Wounded KneeWounded Knee Angered over Sitting Bull’s Angered over Sitting Bull’s

death, the Ghost Dancers death, the Ghost Dancers left the reservation, left the reservation, breaking their treaty breaking their treaty agreementagreement

U.S. troops pursued themU.S. troops pursued them On Dec. 29, 1890, the two On Dec. 29, 1890, the two

groups fought at Wounded groups fought at Wounded Knee CreekKnee Creek

25 US soldiers and about 25 US soldiers and about 200 Lakota (mostly women, 200 Lakota (mostly women, children, and the elderly) children, and the elderly) died in the battledied in the battle

Wounded Knee marked the Wounded Knee marked the end of the Indian Wars on end of the Indian Wars on the Great Plains; the Sioux the Great Plains; the Sioux were finally forced onto the were finally forced onto the reservationsreservations

Chief Joseph & the Nez Chief Joseph & the Nez PercePerce

The Nez Perce refused to The Nez Perce refused to give up their assigned give up their assigned reservation in Idaho in 1877reservation in Idaho in 1877

The US Army threatened to The US Army threatened to forcibly relocate them; forcibly relocate them; violence broke out and the violence broke out and the Nez Perce fled, trying to Nez Perce fled, trying to reach Canadareach Canada

Retreated 1300 miles and Retreated 1300 miles and got within 30 miles of the got within 30 miles of the Canadian border before Canadian border before being cut off by the Army being cut off by the Army and forced to surrenderand forced to surrender

The Nez Perce were forced The Nez Perce were forced to relocate to the Indian to relocate to the Indian Territory (Oklahoma)Territory (Oklahoma)

Helen Hunt Helen Hunt JacksonJackson

1830 – 18851830 – 1885 Wrote Wrote A Century of A Century of

DishonorDishonor (1881), a (1881), a book which exposed book which exposed the shameful way the the shameful way the US government and US government and the Army had treated the Army had treated the Indiansthe Indians

Jackson urged Jackson urged Congress to make Congress to make amends; her pleas led amends; her pleas led Congress to try to find Congress to try to find a new approach to a new approach to Indian relationsIndian relations

The Dawes Act of 1887The Dawes Act of 1887 Sponsored by Sponsored by Sen. Henry Sen. Henry

DawesDawes of Massachusetts of Massachusetts Abolished tribal Abolished tribal

organizationsorganizations Broke up communally held Broke up communally held

reservation land by allotting reservation land by allotting each Indian head of each Indian head of household 160 acres for household 160 acres for farming; single adults farming; single adults received 80 acres, children received 80 acres, children each received 40 acreseach received 40 acres

Any remaining reservation Any remaining reservation land was sold to white land was sold to white settlers with the money settlers with the money going into a trust set aside going into a trust set aside for Native Americansfor Native Americans

AssimilationAssimilation The Dawes Act was a failureThe Dawes Act was a failure Land allotted to the Indians Land allotted to the Indians

was of poor qualitywas of poor quality Agents put in charge of the Agents put in charge of the

reservations were often reservations were often corrupt or biasedcorrupt or biased

Most of the Plains Indians had Most of the Plains Indians had little interest or experience in little interest or experience in farming and didn’t want to be farming and didn’t want to be assimilated into “American-assimilated into “American-style” of lifestyle” of life

Not understanding the concept Not understanding the concept of land ownership, most sold of land ownership, most sold their allotments to white their allotments to white settlerssettlers

The “Indian problem” was The “Indian problem” was ultimately solved by the ultimately solved by the decrease in Indian population decrease in Indian population from hunger, apathy, and from hunger, apathy, and diseasedisease

Reservations TodayReservations Today