Removal of Native Americans

Broken Promises When miners first arrived out West in the 1840’s, conflict with Natives began almost immediately. In order to end conflict Native Americans signed the Fort Laramie treaty. This was supposed to guarantee permanent, limited land area to Natives. Eventually, gold was found near this area in Pikes Peak leading to a wave of miners entering land promised to Native Americans. The government asked Indian leaders to sign a new treaty giving up this land. Some Natives refused and attacked white settlers.

Violence Erupts White settlers struck back against Native American attacks. Colonel John Chivington led his militia against the Cheyenne tribe. After the tribe surrendered, Chivington ignored the surrender and ordered the massacre of 200 men, women, and children. In 1867 in an attempt to end violence, the Federal government urged Native Americans to farm like whites, attend white schools and take on “American” ways. Eventually southern Plains Indians signed an agreement agreeing to move to reservations in both Oklahoma and South Dakota. These lands were full of awful soil and the Native Americans did not want to move to these places, but realized they had no choice.

The Decline of the Buffalo While the Native Americans of the Plains suffered great violence, and broken treaties, perhaps nothing was worse for them than the end of the Buffalo. As white settlers arrived, Buffalo were decreasing from disease, the desire for buffalo robes, hunting for sport and railroads destroying their habitat. Native Americans themselves were also becoming better hunters and continued to hunt them despite their clearly declining population.

The War for the West As miners continued to move West, Natives continued to be tormented even on reservations. In 1874, gold was found on the Lakota reservation. Thousands of miners rushed to the reservation. Led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, the Indians fought back in the Sioux War of In June, 1876 General Custer led a column of soldiers in Little Bighorn Valley to protect the miners. Custer brought in 225 men and ran into an army of 2,000 Natives. Custer and his entire army were killed. The army quickly responded and defeated the Indian groups. In fact they refused to provide them with food rations until they gave up 1/3 of their land promised in the Fort Laramie treaty. In the Southwest, Natives led by Geronimo, continued fighting for a long period of time. Geronimo fought until 1886 before his surrender.

The End of the Native Way of Life Missing their original way of life, many Natives turned to a religious ceremony called the Ghost Dance. Natives believed that if they participated in the Ghost Dance, a Spirit would arrive and free Indians from this land filled with whites and provide them with a new land. Settlers worried that the Ghost Dance was a sign the Natives were preparing for war. The government banned the Ghost Dance and even entered the reservation to arrest Sitting Bull. In the struggle he was shot and killed. Upset by the death of Sitting Bull, many natives fled the reservation and were chased by the army. On December 29th at Wounded Knee Creek, the Indians prepared to surrender. A shot suddenly rang out, by the time the shooting stops about 300 men, women, and children were dead. This fighting marked the end of the Ghost Dance religion.

Public Reaction During the late 1800’s, even more Native Americans were forced onto reservations. The calls for better treatment of Natives led to the passing of the Dawes Act in This encouraged Natives to become farmers. This act was unsuccessful as Native Americans did not understand the value of land and often sold it for unfair prices. Native American culture also changed as the federal government took away the power of Native American leaders. It appointed government agents to make all decisions.