Conflict on the Great Plains

Indian Wars overview Lead up Indian Wars 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

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

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