The Struggle of the Plains Indians 1860 – 360,00 Native Americans in the US Most scattered about the vast grasslands standing in the path of the advancing white pioneers

The Struggle of the Plains Indians Conflict with settlers in the East before the Civil War resulted I the removal policy which placed Indians in the trans-Mississippi west, most in Oklahoma territory

The Struggle of the Plains Indians Before whites began to arrive, Comanche had driven the Apaches off the central plains into the Rio Grande valley (18th Century) Cheyenne had abandoned their villages along the upper reaches of the Mississippi and Missouri River before the Civil War Sioux emerged on the plains attacking the Crows, Kiowas, and Pawnees.

The Struggle of the Plains Indians Peace Commissions (army and Indian agents) sent to meet with Plains Indians in 1867 and 1868 and promised aid non-interference Promised food, clothing, and supplies in exchange for ancestral lands Received from federal Indian agents moth-eaten blankets, spoiled beef, and other defective provisions

The Struggle of the Plains Indians Conflicts between Indians and U.S. Army Sand Creek Massacre – 1864. 450 Arapaho and Cheyenne men, women, and children killed in Colorado Territory by Col. Chivington’s volunteer forces Little Big Horn – 1876. Gen. Custer and 264 troops killed by Sioux Indians in Montana Territory.

The Struggle of the Plains Indians Conflicts between Indians and U.S. Army Chief Joseph and Nez Perce captured by army after 1300 mile chase Wounded Knee – 1890. 200 unarmed Sioux killed after Sitting Bull was killed.

The Struggle of the Plains Indians E. Dawes Act (1887) or Dawes Severalty Act – sought to Americanize Indians Reservations divided among families in 160 acre segments Wiped out tribal ownership of land Tribal loyalties had to be renounced to gain American citizenship Dissolved many tribes as legal entities

The Struggle of the Plains Indians E. Dawes Act (1887) or Dawes Severalty Act – sought to Americanize Indians Between 1887 and 1934, Indians lost over half of their reservation lands to whites Native children were sent to boarding school and matrons sent to reservations