Native Americans

• • 1830 Indian Removal Act moved Native Americans west
  • 1834 Permanent Indian Frontier was the border separating the Native Americans and white Americans
• • 1851 Fort Laramie Treaty set boundaries between Native Americans and white Americans --> Indians would get money and land if they let travellers cross the Plains
  • 1868 Second Fort Laramie Treaty was made after both sides failed to keep to the terms of the treaty
• Sand Creek Massacre 1864:

  • the Cheyenne tribe was attacked by Colonel Chivington and 675 of his men - 148 of the tribe was killed.

  Fetterman's Trap 1866

  • Captain Fetterman and US soldiers were attacked by Native Americans - they settled on their land
• 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'.
• The Battle of Little Bighorn 1876: the discovery of gold in the sacred black hills caused conflict

  • the US army, led by Custer, lost due to his tactics:
  • went against orders by splitting his army
  • was outnumbered by Indians who surrounded them
  • fought in desperation by shooting down horses in defence
• The Battle of Wounded Knee, 1890:

  • the Ghost Dance was banned
  • Native Americans' were surrounded by US cavalry and killed