The Colonization of Native Americans

Sand Creek Massacre

During the colonial period, Native Americans had a complicated relationship with white settlers. One major event that spurred the tensions between the Native Americans and white settlers was the Sand Creek Massacre. Starting 1842, the Native American tribes, which are the Cheyenne and Arapahoes started immigrating to the United States. The influx of large numbers of natives in the North Platte country put more pressure on resources. The white settlers approached immigrant trains on the Overland Trail for tolls in coffee and sugar and sometimes robbed the wagons on the Santa Fe Trail. However, the United States attempted to "intimidate the Arapahos and Cheyennes by establishing forts along the immigrant routes" (Fowler 365). A treaty council was formed in 1851, which recognized Cheyennes and Arapahos as tribes. However, The presence of the US army in Arapaho and Cheyenne territories posed a significant risk to the tribes' safety. Instances of disrespect and violence towards Native people by troops heightened tensions. For example, in 1853, soldiers killed Sioux without saying anything, prompting complaints from Sioux leaders about their lack of protection. In 1854, troops attacked a camp of Brule Sioux six miles from Fort Laramie on the North Platte. This attack and its aftermath gave the Arapahos and Cheyennes serious concerns about their safety and led to the massacre. 

Frontier

In the context of the late 19th century, the United States was emerging from economic depression and dealing with significant social unrest. At this time, historians largely viewed Native Americans as "remnants of a bygone era." This perspective was influenced by Frederick Jackson Turner's 1893 essay, which emphasized the significance of the frontier in American history. Turner acknowledged the role of Native Americans in this history but suggested that their relevance was tied to a past era that had now ended. Turner depicted Native Americans both as facilitators of trade and as obstacles to be overcome by American expansion. This dual role positioned Native Americans as part of a historical narrative that ended with the closing of the frontier in 1890. "Native Americans had played a major role in the history of the frontier, but the frontier was gone. For Turner and other historians, Indian people and their role in American history were also on the road to oblivion" (Edmunds 717). The 1890 census reported that the frontier had officially closed and that the Native American population had decreased to 248,253. This demographic decline reinforced the idea that Native Americans were fading into history, aligning with Turner's thesis. 

Ghost Dance

Additionally, the end of the ghost dance movement showed discrimination against Indians. The Ghost Dance movement was a religious and cultural phenomenon that emerged among various Native American tribes in the late 19th century. It was a response to the  changes brought about by the white settlers. It resonated deeply with communities that were facing severe hardship, including land loss, cultural suppression, and economic marginalization. The U.S. government and many white settlers viewed the Ghost Dance movement with suspicion and fear. They interpreted it as a sign of potential Native American resistance or rebellion. The Ghost Dance movement ended by the Wounded Knee Massacre on December 29, 1890, in South Dakota. U.S. Army troops opened fire on a group of Lakota Sioux who were performing the Ghost Dance, resulting in the deaths of over 150 Native Americans. The massacre marked an end to the movement and further worsened Native American marginalization (Edmunds 717). 

Dawes Act

Enacted in 1887, the Dawes Act aimed to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream American society. It allotted "the reservations into small individual
farms and to force Indian people into the American mainstream" (Edmunds 718). By breaking up tribes and encouraging individual ownership, the act sought to weaken tribal affiliations, so that the Natives could connect with mainstream American culture and society.

These four main events are one of the reasons why Native American communities are so underrepresented today. Native Americans were purposely excluded and forced to assimilate into American society, thus leading to violence and generational trauma. They were treated unfairly by Americans and these historical events show how they were oppressed and how there was violence against them.