Frontier Wars Ch. 16 Sec 2 Guiding Question: What were the positive and negative aspects of Westward Expansion?

The Treaty of Medicine Lodge Creek  A peace treaty between Native Americans and the U.S. government.  Provisions –1) a 3 million acre reservation was created for Native Americans –2) government agents promised food and supplies to restrict access to the area –3) in return, Native Americans would move onto the reservations and stop the raids against the settlers  Some chiefs agreed to the treaty and some did not.  Quanah Parker & Satanta rejected the treaty.

The Buffalo Soldiers  Many frontier forts were guarded by the Buffalo Soldiers (African American soldiers)  The name was given to them by the Native Americans who respected their bravery.  Most Buffalo Soldiers were former slaves who had joined the military upon receiving their freedom.  Many difficult tasks: –1) scouted –2) mapped –3) built roads between settled and unsettled areas –4) patrolled the frontier, protecting settlers from Native American attacks.

War Against Native Americans Ch. 16 Section 3

The Raid at Salt Creek  Led by Satanta, the Kiowa Native American group attacked General Sherman and his wagon train.  Satanta and his men returned to the reservation after the attack.  General Sherman decided to punish the Natives for the attack.  Satanta was arrested and was brought back to Texas to stand trial. –He was convicted of murder and sentenced to hang. –People worried that this act would upset other Native Americans and cause more trouble. –Governor Edmund Davis changed his sentence to life in prison. –Upon his 2 nd arrest, Satanta couldn’t stand being in prison and took his own life in 1878.

A More Aggressive Army Policy  As a result of the Salt Creek Raid, all Native Americans were ordered onto reservations.  This greatly decreased the raids in Texas.

The End of the Buffalo  For centuries, the buffalo roamed the Great Plains of Texas.  That is until the buffalo hunters arrived!  Buffalo hides (skin) could be made into leather just as easily as cattle hides.  Some encouraged the killing of the buffalo herds to force Native Americans to live on reservations.  By the end of the 19 th century (1800’s) the buffalo was nearly extinct.  Native Americans were forced to choose between reservation life and starvation.