Conflict on the Great Plains

1. Conflict on the Great Plains

2. Indian Wars overview • Lead up • In 1834, the federal government declared that all of the Great Plains would be a reservation set aside for Native Americans • Starting in the 1850’s, the government changed its mind • Railroads allowed easier settlement of the Plains • Smaller territories were assigned to each tribe, with the rest of the land being set aside for settlers • Indian Wars • Many tribes ignored the new borders, leading to conflict between natives and settlers in which the military took the side of the settlers • The army forced native tribes into increasingly small reservations, and some tribes fought back

3. Conflicts • Use the textbook, starting on page 410, to read and take notes about each of the following conflicts: • Sand Creek • Fetterman Massacre • Little Bighorn • Red River War • Wounded Knee

4. End of the Indian Wars • Native tribes that fought were defeated, in part because the tribes largely fought separately • The virtual extinction of the Buffalo eliminated the main food source for the native tribes • All tribes were herded into reservations • The government implemented assimilation programs, attempting to “Americanize” native tribes