History

There are several main reasons the federal government's policy of assimilation failed. One reason is that the government was continualy changing its reservation limits. For example, in 1834, the entire Great Plains was all one reservation but, inthe 1850s the government changed its policies to create specific boundaries for each tribe. The Indians continued to hunt on there original lands and clashes started with the settlers and miners who now occopied the surrouding areas. Another reason is the US Army's attitude toward Native Americans and evcents like the Massacer at Sand Creek. Native Americans who had returned peaceably to Sand Creek (500 women and children and 200 warriors) were attacked by the US Army's John Chivington under the orders of General S.R.Curtis to "make them suffer more". 150 Native Americans, mostly women and children, were killed on November 29, 1864. A third reason the policy failed was the Native Americans own retaliations. At the Fetterman Masssacer, over 80 US soldiers were killed in an ambush led by Crazy Horse in December, 1866. These are just three of many reasons why the federa governments policy of assimilation failed.