The Sand Creek Massacre, which took place on November 29, 1864, had significant consequences for both the Native American tribes involved and the United States government. Here are some of the main outcomes:
1. Native American Casualties: The Sand Creek Massacre resulted in the deaths of approximately 150-200 Cheyenne and Arapaho Native Americans, the majority of whom were women, children, and elderly individuals. This brutal attack caused immense grief and trauma within the affected tribes.
2. Escalation of Violence: Following the Sand Creek Massacre, the violence between settlers and Native American tribes escalated in the region. Retaliatory attacks and raids became more frequent, intensifying the conflict in the West.
3. Loss of Tribal Land: The massacre also contributed to the displacement and loss of territory for the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. The federal government intensified efforts to remove Native Americans from their ancestral lands, pushing them onto reservations and ultimately restricting their sovereignty.
4. Public Outrage and Investigations: News of the Sand Creek Massacre spread throughout the nation, leading to widespread public outrage. Subsequent investigations were launched to examine the actions of Colonel John Chivington and the United States Army troops involved in the attack.
5. Contemporary Criticism and Reevaluations: The Sand Creek Massacre has been widely condemned in modern times as a gross violation of human rights and a betrayal of peaceful Native American tribes. It has also prompted a reevaluation of how U.S. history is taught and portrayed to acknowledge the violence committed against Indigenous peoples.
6. Impact on United States-Indigenous Relations: The Sand Creek Massacre strained relations between the U.S. government and Native American tribes for many years to come. It eroded trust and heightened tensions, contributing to a legacy of hostility and inequality in the relationship between the two groups.
Overall, the Sand Creek Massacre had devastating consequences for the Native American tribes involved, furthered the displacement of Indigenous peoples, and deepened the divide between Native Americans and the United States government.
what happened as a result of the sand creek massacre
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