Indian Wars 1862–1867: Causes and Consequences Flashcards

Why did the Dakota Sioux rise up in 1862?

Promised government payments were late and food was short after bad harvests. Traders refused credit.

How did the American Civil War help cause the Indian Wars, 1862–1867?

It pulled soldiers off the frontier and delayed payments. Local militias acted harshly.

What did the Homestead Act (1862) do that increased conflict on the Plains?

It offered about 65-hectare farms to settlers. This brought them onto Indian lands and led to clashes.

How did gold discoveries in the 1860s lead to conflict?

Miners and new routes crossed hunting grounds. The army built forts to guard them, so Plains Indians resisted.

What was the Bozeman Trail and why did it cause trouble?

It was a shortcut to the Montana goldfields. It cut through Lakota (Sioux) hunting lands and new forts angered them, leading to attacks.

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How did building the railroad cause clashes by 1867?

Surveyors and workers crossed the Plains and scared off buffalo. The army protected the line, and fights broke out.

What was the impact of the Sand Creek Massacre (1864) on the wider war?

A Colorado unit attacked a Cheyenne camp and killed many. It sparked revenge raids and a wider war.

What did the US Army do in 1865–1867, and what was one result?

The army built forts and ran winter campaigns. Fighting spread, and defeats helped push peace talks.

Why was the Indian Peace Commission set up in 1867?

To end the wars by making new treaties and moving tribes onto reservations.

What were the Medicine Lodge Treaties (1867)?

Agreements with southern Plains tribes to move to Indian Territory. In return they were promised food and goods.

By 1867, how had life changed for many Plains Indians as a result of the wars?

Many were pushed onto smaller reservations. They had less freedom and relied more on government rations.

How did the wars and new routes affect buffalo hunting by 1867?

Trails and rail work disturbed herds. Fewer buffalo stayed near routes, so hunting got harder.

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