Indian Wars

American Indians 1865 – Dozens of different cultural and tribal groups occupied the west – Land occupied represented their home and livelihood – As lands were taken over American Indians lost both their land and freedom to live according to tradition Sioux Sun Dance

New Mexico and Arizona Pueblo Groups – Hopi & Zuni: farmers raising corn and livestock

Southwest Navajo & Apache – Both were nomadic tribes. – Adapted to raising crops and livestock Known for arts and crafts Apache men in front of home

Pacific Northwest (Washington & Oregon) Chinook & Shasta – Complex communities were created based on abundant fish and game A group of Chinook Indians using a seine to catch salmon. Picture take by John F. Ford, c.1905

Great Plains Tribes Approx. 2/3 of western tribes lived on the Great Plains Tribes: Sioux, Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Crow, Comanche and Pawnee, to name a few

Great Plains Tribes Nomadic Tribes – Gave up farming with introduction of horses Where did the horses come from? – By 1700s they had become skillful horsemen – Life revolved around hunting buffalo 1851 Councils were held assigning tribes to reservations – Large tracts of land Most tribes ignored these restrictions

Indian Wars Miners, cattlemen and homesteaders began encroaching on tribal territories Conflicts began to arise between the two groups

Sand Creek Massacre Background For years, the U. S. had been engaged in conflict with several Indian tribes over territory. The Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1851 had given the Indians extensive territory, but the Pikes Peak gold rush in 1858 and other factors had persuaded the U.S. to renegotiate the terms of the treaty. In 1861, the Treaty of Fort Wise was signed by Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho chiefs. The treaty took from the Indians much of the land given to them by the earlier treaty, reducing the size of their reservation land to about 1/13th of the original amount. Black Kettle White Antelope

Sand Creek Massacre In an attempt to maintain peace, two chiefs, Black Kettle and White Antelope, tried to establish a truce. They were advised to camp near Fort Lyon in Colorado and fly an American flag over their camp to establish themselves as friendly. On November 29th, 1864, while the majority of the males were out hunting, Colonel Chivington and his 700 troops attacked the Indian campsite near Fort Lyon. More than a hundred Indians were killed, despite the American flag flying overhead and the raising of a white flag after the attack began. Most of the Indians killed were women and children, and many of their bodies were mutilated. Despite eye witness accounts from survivors and some soldiers, Chivington and his men were not charged for the heinous attack. Colonel John Chivington

Fetterman Massacre Dec. 21, 1866 Crazy Horse and 10 decoy warriors then rode into view of the fort. When Carrington fired an artillery round at them, the decoys ran away as if frightened. The party of woodcutters made it safely back to the fort, but Colonel Fetterman and his men chased after the fleeing Crazy Horse and his decoys, just as planned. The soldiers rode straight into the ambush and were wiped out in a massive attack during which some 40,000 arrows rained down on the hapless troopers. None of them survived. 81 Men were killed Fetterman Video