Govt Restricts Native Americans U S govt created

Gov’t Restricts Native Americans • U. S. gov’t created treaties restricting Native Americans to reservations – 1834: entire Great Plains – 1850 s: specific boundaries for each tribe • But, most Native Americans cont’d to use traditional lands

Declining Reservation Lands, p. 411

Clashes between Native Americans and others • Sand Creek Massacre, Nov 29, 1864 – Col. Chivington and troops attacked group of 700 Cheyenne and Arapaho, killing ~150 people • Red River War, 1874 -75 – Friendly tribes placed on reservations – U. S. army fought ppl who resisted/cont’d raiding • Battle of Little Big Horn, June 1876 – Gen Custer and troops attacked Sitting Bull’s camp • Crazy Horse, Gall, Sitting Bull led attack – Custer and Co. outnumbered and killed

Assimilation • Dawes Act, 1887 – Divided reservation land among individual Native Americans • 160 acres to families • 80 acres to individuals – Sold remaining land to settlers • Money supposed to go to Native Americans did not • Loss of the buffalo – 1800: 65 million buffalo on plains – 1890: fewer than 1000 buffalo

Ghost Dance and Battle of Wounded Knee • Ghost Dance religion – a response to poverty and disease Native Americans suffered • U. S. military/gov’t feared uprising, attempted to dismantle religion – Many Sioux practiced Ghost Dance – Sitting Bull killed by arresting officers Dec. 1890 • Dec 28, 1890 7 th Calvery gathered 350 Sioux – Brought to Wounded Knee Creek, SD – Dec 29 th, demanded Sioux surrender weapons • One shot fired, army fired on Sioux, killing ~300 ppl • Ended armed wars between Indians and U. S. • Ended Ghost Dance religion