When the Civil War ended – U.S. Troops return to Texas – Did not protect frontier; worked on restoring federal authority (Reconstruction) – Opportunity for Native Americans Raided settlements; 162 deaths in 2 years, 43 captured

1867 – U.S. to create peace treaty with Natives – Native chiefs from the entire region met at Medicine Lodge Creek in Kansas – Established a 3 million acre reservation located in Indian Territory (Oklahoma) Had to stop the raids Some signed, some refused Quanah Parker rejected treaty

Satanta – Kiowa chief – Spoke out against the treaty – Did not want to settle, used to roaming freely – Hated to see Anglos destroying the land and the buffalo

Many would not move to the reservation – loss of independence; Spiritual connection to the land; fought to preserve way of life Government was supposed to provide food and did NOT Buffalo hunters were allowed to hunt on the reservation – Govt. promised that would NOT happen

Natives left to hunt and raided settlements Comancheros – traders in New Mexico; encouraged Native raids – Benefited from items stolen; traded for guns and ammo U.S. army patrolled frontier – Natives still successful

Frontier forts guarded by African American troops = Buffalo Soldiers – Name given by Native Americans; respected their bravery – Most former slaves – Scouted, mapped and built roads between settled and unsettled lands – Faced discrimination from Anglos; harassed, killed

1869 – under President Ulysses S. Grant – Policy based on Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers (gentle people, fair treatment of Natives) – Government hoping for the same gentleness in the SW – Move Natives to reservations, provide supplies – Lawrie Tatum – agent to Kiowa-Comanche reservation Government did NOT provide enough supplies Raids continued; army angry Decided to “remove” Natives