Learn Our History Learn Our History Today: On November 29, 1864, one of the most infamous episodes in the United States’ long running war against the Native Americans, the Sand Creek Massacre, took place in eastern Colorado. The roots of this terrible massacre go back to 1851, when the Treaty of Fort Laramie was signed, guaranteeing ownership of the lands that make up the eastern portions of Colorado to the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indian tribes. The rights given in the treaty would not last long, and before the decade was out, American miners began flowing through the Indian land to get to the Gold Rush that was occurring in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Naturally, tensions between the new settlers and the Indians began to rise, and soon, in order to avoid open conflict, a meeting was arranged between the Indians and the authorities. Under the leadership of Chief Black Kettle, a delegation representing the Cheyenne and Arapahoe tribes journeyed to Fort Wise, where they quickly commenced to coming up with a new treaty. The new agreement gave the Indians a 600 square mile reservation and annuity payments, but lost them a majority of their land.
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 19:34:15 +0000
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