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Sand Creek Massacre
On November 29, 1864, Colonel John Chivington and 750 of his troops attacked and destroyed a peaceful village of Cheyenne and Arapaho along the Sandy Creek in Southeastern Colorado. Chivington and his men killed over 100 men, women, and children. They also fired cannons into the village, destroying many of the teepees and huts. -
2nd Treaty of Fort Laramie
The Second Treaty of Fort Laramie was a treaty between the United States and Native Americans of the Lakota and Arapaho tribes. The treaty gave them ownership of the land in the Black Hills region of South Dakotah. It gave them hunting rights in Wyoming, South Dakotah, and Montana. -
Battle of Palo Duro Canyon
This battle took place in the Palo Duro Canyon in Northern Texas. The fight was between the United States and the Cheyenne, Camanche, and Kiowa tribes. There were very few casualties, because most of the Native Americans fled the village, resulting in a US victory. -
Battle of the Little Big Horn
This battle was between the United States and a combined force of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho Native Americans. The main general for the US was General George Custer. Custer decided to attack anyways, despite being severely outnumbered. Custer's fight would become famously known as Custer's last stand, which resulted in a Native American victory. -
Relocation of the Nez Perce-Chief Joseph Surrenders
Chief Joseph and his followers of the Nez Perce tribe were attempting to make an escape to Canada, which meant freedom for him and his tribe. After a journey of over 1,000 miles, he surrendered a mere 40 miles from the Candadian border. He spoke these now famous words, "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever." -
Capture of Geronimo
Geronimo was the leader of the Apache tribe, and he resented what the US government had done to his people. They tried to force he and his people onto a reservation, but Geronimo soon left with other Apache and returned to their normal lives. In 1886, Geronimo was finally captured by the US Army and made a prisoner of war. -
Medicine Lodge Treaty
The Medicine Lodge treaty was a series of treaties between the US government and the Plains Indians that was supposed to bring peace to the area by moving the reservations in Indian territory, farther away from settlers moving west. -
Ghost Dance Movement Begins
The ghost dance was a Native American religious movement that was started by Wovoka. It was believed to bring peace and prosperity to the Native Americans, having the buffalo return and the white man to leave their land. Many different tribes practiced this ritual, and it worried the US government. -
Wounded Knee Massacre
The Wounded Knee Massacre took place on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakotah. This was the final battle of the American Indian War. Nearly 300 Native American men, women, and children were killed.
