1. Plains Indian Wars America was determined to acquire the homelands of the Native Americans. The United States used military and social solutions to deal with the “Indian Problem.” American Troops battled tribes while defeated tribes were pushed onto reservations and forced to adopt “white” customs. “ When I was young I walked all over this country…and saw no other people than the Apaches. After many summers I walked again and found another race of people had come to take it.” - Cochise, leader of the Apache(1866)

2. Plains Indian Wars Red Cloud’s War Leader of the Lakota Sioux Planned attacks on settlers and construction workers at forts along the Bozeman Trail. Captain William J. Fetterman attacked the Sioux and paid with his life in what the Sioux called the “Battle of One Hundred Slain.” Also known as “Fetterman’s Massacre”(1866) Led to the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 – U.S. abandoned the Bozeman Trial

3. Plains Indian Wars Sand Creek Massacre Discovery of gold in Colorado(1858) Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes refused to sell their land. Negotiations stated that tribes could camp near army posts and be free from attack. On 11/28/1864, John Chivington attacked Cheyenne tribe led by Black Kettle. He ignored the white flag atop Black Kettle’s tipi. Thirty warriors and 150 women and children were killed. Black Kettle was one of the few to escape. “ the massacre was the foulest and most unjustifiable crime in he annals of America” – General Nelson Miles Led to the end of any goodwill between whites and Indians in the region.

4. Plains Indian Wars The Apache Wars Modern day New Mexico and Arizona In 1861, Apache chief Cochise was wrongfully arrested for abducting a miner’s children. Cochise would escape but not with the others arrested with him. He then took white hostages to negotiate for his people. After failed negotiations both sides executed their prisoners. Many tribes were attacked in the region. While Cochise used Guerilla tactics in attacks against white settlers. Attacks continued until another Apache chief Geronimo surrendered in 1886 to end the Apache Wars.

5. Plains Indian Wars The Great Sioux War (1876) Location Yellowstone River and Tributaries (Montana, Wyoming, Dakotas) Gold discovered in 1874 led to rush into Sioux Nation The Sioux nation fought against three fronts General George Crook, General Alfred Terry, and Colonel John Gibbon. Sioux Leaders Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, Red Cloud Many Sioux had not settled in the Reservation and remained on their land in the west. Battle of Little Big Horn and Colonel George Custer

6. Plains Indian Wars Custer’s Last Stand – Battle of Little Big Horn Custer decided to attack what he thought was an inferior force. Crazy Horse and Gall killed Custer and his troops in the largest Sioux victory in the war. Over 200 soldiers fell in the attack. Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse would later be forced to surrender due to starvation in 1881 and 1877.

7. Plains Indian Wars Wounded Knee (1890) After the murder of Sitting Bull while he was being arrested Big Foot decided to try and join forces with Red Cloud. By this time Red Cloud wanted peace rather than confrontation. Big Foot and his men were found and ordered to camp at Wounded Knee. He agreed to camp and surrender the next morning. While surrendering their weapons a death Indian refused to give up and fired a shot. Both sides started to fight. In the end over two hundred were dead mostly Sioux women and children. This Massacre marked the end of the Plains Indian Wars

8. Plains Indian Wars Why Did Treaties not work? What were the conditions on reservations? What was the goal of the Dawes Act?