Native Americans

• The 1830 Indian Removal Act moved Native Americans west of the Mississppi river.
• The 1851 Fort Laramie Treaty gave Native Americans the right to live on specific areas of land. It led to the Sand Creek Massacre (1864) and Fetterman's Trap (1866).
• 1868 was the Second Treaty of Fort Laramie which moved Native Americans to smaller reservations. US governement broke regulations of this treaty and ended with the battle of Little Bighorn.
• Native Americans:

  • had nomadic ways of living, where they followed the buffalo and lived in tepees
  • believed in Wakkan Tanka (great spirit) and that land should not be owned or sold.
  • held ceremonies such as 'scalping' and dances such as the 'sun dance'.
• Sand Creek Massacre:

  • 1864, the Sand Creek camp, containing several Native American tribes, was attacked by Colonel Chivington and 600 of his men.
  • 148 of the tribes were killed.
• The Battle of Little Bighorn

  • 1876, the US army, led by Custer, lost due to his tactics:
  • went against orders by splitting his army into three
  • was outnumbered by Indians who surrounded them
  • fought in desperation by shooting down horses in defence.
• 1857, Mountain Meadow Massacre