1825–40 INDIAN LAND The Great Plains were seen as a desert and not wanted by anyone other than the Plains Indians. 1825–38 The eastern Indian nations were forced to move to reservations in Indian territory.

1840–51 PASSING THROUGH 1846 Pioneers travelled to Oregon, after it was purchased from Britain. 1847 The Mormons travelled to Utah to escape persecution. 1849 Some gold miners travelled by land to California after it had been taken from Mexico and gold had been discovered. 1851 Fort Laramie Treaty defined the areas in which Indians could hunt and gave travellers a clear route across the Plains.

1851–59 SETTLING 1854 Settlers began moving into Kansas and Nebraska. 1859 Gold was discovered in Colorado.

1859–69 CONFLICT Northern Plains: SERIOUS CONFLICTS ON THE GREAT PLAINS Northern Plains: 1862 Gold was discovered in Montana. Miners broke the treaty and crossed Sioux lands. 1862 Homestead Act. 1865–1868 Red Cloud’s War. 1868 Second Fort Laramie Treaty set up the Great Sioux Reservation, allowed for Sioux hunting lands, removed forts and allowed for free passage of travellers and railroad builders.

1859–69 CONFLICT Southern Plains: SERIOUS CONFLICTS ON THE GREAT PLAINS Southern Plains: 1859 Gold was discovered in Colorado. Cheyenne and Arapaho attacked miners, travellers and railroad surveyors. 1862 Homestead Act. 1863 Cheyenne wars. 1864 Sand Creek Massacre. 1867 The Medicine Lodge Treaty established Cheyenne and Arapaho reservations.

1869–78 DEFEAT FINAL CONFLICTS ON THE GREAT PLAINS Northern Plains: 1869 Transcontinental railroad completed. 1874 Gold was discovered in the Black Hills, miners flooded in, Sioux attacked. 1876 Great Sioux War – battles at the Rosebud and Little Bighorn. US army winter campaign defeated Indians. 1877 Last Sioux under Crazy Horse surrendered. Northern nations confined to reservations.

1869–78 DEFEAT FINAL CONFLICTS ON THE GREAT PLAINS Southern Plains: 1869 Transcontinental railroad completed. 1871 Destruction of the southern buffalo herd began. Cheyenne and Arapaho attacked buffalo hunters. 1874 Red River War. US army winter campaign defeated Indians. 1875 Southern buffalo herd destroyed. Southern nations confined to reservations.

1878–90 END OF A WAY OF LIFE RESERVATIONS AND THE DESTRUCTION OF PLAINS INDIAN CULTURE Northern Plains: 1880 Destruction of northern buffalo herd began. 1883 Destruction of northern buffalo herd completed. 1885 All Indian Nations on reservations. 1887 Dawes Act. 1890 Ghost Dance and massacre at Wounded Knee.

1878–90 END OF A WAY OF LIFE RESERVATIONS AND THE DESTRUCTION OF PLAINS INDIAN CULTURE Southern Plains: 1885 All Indian Nations on reservations. 1887 Dawes Act. 1890 Ghost Dance.