The Sand Creek Massacre

1
The Sand Creek Massacre

• Chapter 5

2
Problems for the Tribes

• The trails to the CO gold fields ran straight
  through KS and the lands belonging to the
  Cheyenne and Arapaho living here.
• They hunted along the Arkansas River, that
  stretched from central KS into CO.
• Some tribal leaders wanted peace, others wanted
  nothing to do with the Americans.
• The problem of whites moving onto/through native
  lands had to be addressed!

3
The chiefs go to D.C.(Not those Chiefs!)

• Cheyenne chiefs Black Kettle and White Antelope
  go to Washington D.C.
• Working for peace
• President Lincoln gives BK an American Flag
• Lincoln gives WA a peace medal

Chief White Antelope
Chief Black Kettle
4
Meeting with the Coloradans

• Black Kettle and others meet with the Governor of
  CO and the volunteer regiment commander.
• The Indian leaders leave the meeting believing
  all is well.
• BK and his tribe set up camp near Ft. Lyon, CO
• Raise the US flag Lincoln gave him
• Raise a white flag to show they are peaceful

5
The Massacre

• Col. Chivington wants to remove all Indian
  tribes, whether they cooperate with the govt. or
  not.
• He betrays Black Kettle and brings his men to get
  rid of the Native Americans.
• 150 men, women, children and even infants are
  killed by Chivington and his men.

6
The end

• White Antelope dies wearing the peace medal
  Lincoln gave him.
• Black Kettle and his wife survive she was shot
  in the back 9 times.
• Soldiers return to Denver, showing off the items
  they stole from the Indians.
• The massacre adds to the distrust different
  tribes will have for Americans the US govt.

7
After the fighting

• Col. Chivington is later interrogated by US
  Military officials.
• He stands by his decision to carry out this
  attack and defends the actions of his soldiers,
  explaining he saw no children or elderly among
  the dead.
• The CO soldiers told of numerous dug out rifle
  shelters the Indians had fortified their
  positions along a nearby river.
• Some credit the soldiers of valiant efforts,
  others will denounce their actions and call them
  murderers.

8
Now its your turn!

• What do you think about all of this? Imagine you
  have read this information on the front page of a
  newspaper.
• Write a letter to the editor expressing your
  opinion and ideas. Be creative. You will write
  at least a page long letter.
• Was this a good/bad thing? Should things have
  been done differently? How?
• What would you have done if you were in Black
  Kettle or Col. Chivingtons shoes?
• Your letter to the editor is due tomorrow.