Native People of the Great Plains  Led a Nomadic Hunting Lifestyle  Depended on the Buffalo for Nearly Everything.

 Homesteaders moved onto the Plains seeking land to settle and farm.  Treaties with Native Tribes made land available for settlers and left less valuable land for the Native People.

 Gold discoveries led to encroachments on Indian Lands.  U.S. pushed Native People to move onto Reservations  Native people fought to preserve their land.

 Conducted by the Railroads to provide meat for work crews.  Promoted by the U.S. Government to weaken Native Americans on the Great Plains

 The Northern Plains tribes defeated George Custer and the 7 th Cavalry at the Little Bighorn.  Custer and over 200 men were killed.  The Lakota eventually moved to the Reservation anyway.

 The Comanche were defeated at Palo Duro Canyon by Ranald MacKenzie and the 4 th Cavalry.  U.S. forces destroyed the Comanche horse herds  Comanche were forced to move to the Reservation

 Geronimo and a small band of Apache successfully resisted U.S. encroachment for over 10 Years.  Over 5000 U.S. troops were used to locate Geronimo’s band.  Geronimo surrendered to General George Crook in 1886

 The Nez Perce fled their homeland and fought a series of battles with the U.S. Army that covered over 1500 miles.  Forced to surrender less than 40 miles from Canada & freedom.  Upon surrendering, Chief Joseph said “From where the suns now stands, I will fight no more forever.”

 Native people on the reservations were forced to rely on corrupt Indian agents for food, shelter & all necessities of life.  Agents would take government money intended for the Indians, & then buy the cheapest supplies available.  Agents would keep leftover money for themselves.

 Native children were taken from the reservations and placed in boarding schools.  Children were forced to learn American culture.

 "An Act to Provide for the Allotment of Lands to Indians on Reservations,"  Emphasized treatment of Native Americans as individuals rather than as members of tribes.  Goal was to eliminate the reservation system.

 The Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889 was the first land rush.  The area opened to settlement included part of the present-day state of Oklahoma.  An estimated 50,000 people lined up for their piece of the available two million acres.

 Many people entered the unoccupied land early & hid until the legal time of entry to lay quick claim to some of the most choice land.  These people became known as "Sooners."