American West Key Dates

Alternative transcript:

Fort Wise Treaty, start of American Civil War between North and South - start of high beef demand in the north that ran throughout war, although this is blocked at Sedalia due to Texas fever. 1862 Homestead Act, (August 1862 namely) Little Crow's War and Pacific Railway Act passed on transcontinental railway 1864 Sand Creek massacre work begins 1865 End of American Civil War, slavery abolished in US 1866-1868 Red Cloud's War 1866 Group of US army soldiers wiped out at Fetterman's Trap by Plains Indians, Red Cloud's War on US government to stop forts being built in Montana, Goodnight and Loving reach Fort Sumner with 1,700 cattle, establishing their trail 1867 Medicine Lodge Creek, Abilene becomes first cow town, 'The Beef Bonanza' 1868 'The Winter Campaign' and second Fort Laramie Treaty, President Grant's Peace Policy 1869 Railroads completed despite some American opposition - the first transcontinental railroad 1870 Cattle Ranching begins on Plains, led to 'Open Range' - leads to Beef Bonanza 1871 Second Indian Appropriations Act 1873 Timber and Culture Act - further 160 acres if trees planted on half of land 1874 Barbed wire begins to be mass-produced, wind-powered water pump introduced, Custer leads Black Hills expedition for gold, ignoring Fort Laramie Treaty December 1875 Great Sioux War leads to the ultimatum that all Sioux must return to their reservation in 60 days or they will be attacked. 1876 Great Sioux War between US Army and Sioux Indians, General Crook defeated at Rosebud River, Battle of the Little Big Horn (25th June) 1877 Desert Land Act - 640 acres of desert land for cheap available 1879 Exoduster Movement 1881 Sitting Bull and followers surrender to American government, OK Corral (26th October), Billy the Kid killed by Pat Garrett 1885 All Plain Indians resettled on reservations, Northern herd buffalo completely destroyed 1886 Severe winter leads to smaller ranches with barbed wire fences and wind pumps, end of cowboy era 1887 Dawes Act - led to land rushes 1890 Battle of Wounded Knee (29th December) and US government close frontier 1892 Johnson County War 1893 Largest Oklahoma Land Rush