NAIMIK PATEL 4.2 ASSIGNMENT The Paradox of Westward Expansion

Glorious Railroads! Railroads had been largely successful due to the unwavering support of the United States Government From 1850 to 1871, the federal government had given over 170 million acres of land grants to railroad companies worth a total of worth half a billion dollars. In the 1860s two companies, The Central Pacific (which moved eastward) and the Union Pacific (which moved westward) competed to build the first transcontinental railroad. In 1869, both companies reached Utah by spring By 1874, 5 transcontinental railroads had been built.

The First Transcontinental Railroad

What does this mean?

It means.. CUT travel time from east to west INCREASED mobility of settlers A UNITED America MORE land MORE money More prosperity?

Prosperity? What about the American Indians? (Plains Indians)

Origin of Struggles In 1834 the federal government designated the entire great plains to be one reservation. This action was revoked in the 1850s when the government started to create treaties that defined specific boundaries. Most Indians didn’t care and continued on with their traditions. Major conflicts resulted…

Massacre at Sand Creek In 1864 General Curtis ordered that a group of Cheyenne Native Americans, who should have been under the protection of the U.S. government, be killed. The tragic loss of over 150 inhabitants camped at Sand Creek had resulted.

Massacre at Sand Creek ndents.com/sandcreek.htm

Death on the Bozeman Trail Early 1866, in attempts to block the construction of the Bozeman Trail to Montana, Sioux Native Americans under the command of Crazy Horse ambushed and massacred 81 soldiers that were under the command Capt. Fetterman at Lodge Trail Ridge. Native Americans call this fight the “Battle of the Hundred Slain” while the Whites call it the “Fetterman Massacre”. The American government had to take action. As a result, the Sioux agreed to live on a reservation along the Missouri river. This became known as the “Treaty of Fort Laramie” (1868)

The Bozeman Trail amous/famous.htm

Red River War During the Kiowa tribe was at war against the US army. This was the Red River War. The war had ended when the US Army herded all allied tribes onto reservations. With the potential of friendly fire suppressed, the Army opened fire on all others. The Army defeated all resistance.

Ledger Drawing of One of the Several Battles istory.net/redriver/

Custer’s Last Stand As tensions rose once more. In June 1876 Colonel Custer and his troops reached Little Big Horn River. The Native Americans were prepared. Lead by Crazy Horse, Gall, and Sitting Bull, the warriors outflanked and crushed Custer’s army and all men of the 7 th cavalry.

The Little Big Horn River Today om/LBHRiver.html

Battle of Wounded Knee The Sioux were suffering from Poverty and Disease. In desperation, a Paiute prophet told them to do the Ghost Dance; it would restore the Native American way of life. The popularity of the dance alarmed American Military leaders. In December 1890 Sitting bull was killed by the Army while Chief big foot led the Sioux away.

A Scene from the re-enactment of the Battle of Wounded Knee min_umn/2008/12/library-of- congress-edward-s-c-1.html

The Final Stand

On December 28, 1890 the 7 th cavalry rounded up 350 Sioux and took them to the Wounded knee Creek camp in South Dakota. After being disarmed, a shot was fired (from whom, no one knows). 300 unarmed Native Americans were killed—Indian resistance had ended.

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