Great Plains
vast grassland between the Mississippi river and the rocky mountains
shamans
people believed to have the power to summon spirits and cure the sick.
ramshackle
appearing ready to collapse, loose and shaky
Treaty of Fort Laramie
the Sioux agreed to live on a reservation along the Missouri River in 1868
Sitting Bull
Sioux chief who led the attack on Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Red River War
Plains Indians fought against settlers & US Army for their land
George Custer
United States general who was killed along with all his command by the Sioux at the battle of Little Bighorn (1839-1876)
assimilation
the social process of absorbing one cultural group into harmony with another
Dawes Act
Law aimed at "Americanizing" the Indian
Battle of Wounded Knee
US soldiers massacred 300 unarmed Native American in 1890. This ended the Indian Wars.
longhorns
Interbred Spanish and English cattle. Live on little water and can live on grass alone.
Chisholm Trail
a former cattle trail from San Antonio in Texas to Abilene in Kansas
long drive
name for the moving of cattle across the plains to the railroad terminals
cow town
settlement at the end of a cattle trail
open range
A vast area of grassland owned by the government where ranchers could graze their herds for free