Reservation System, Assimilation Policies, and the Dawes Act (1851–1887)

1. Indian Appropriations Act funds early reservations

   Mar 3, 1851Labels: Indian Appropriations, Federal reservations

   • Britannica

2. Fort Laramie (Horse Creek) Treaty negotiated

   Sep 17, 1851Labels: Fort Laramie, Plains nations

   • NPS
   • Britannica

3. Sand Creek Massacre accelerates Plains conflict

   Nov 29, 1864Labels: Sand Creek, Cheyenne, Arapaho

   • NPS
   • Britannica

4. Indian Peace Commission created by Congress

   Jul 20, 1867Labels: Indian Peace, U S

   • Peace Commission

5. Medicine Lodge treaties push southern Plains reservations

   Oct 21, 1867Labels: Medicine Lodge, Southern Plains

   • NPS
   • NPS History

6. Grant administration launches “Peace Policy” framework

   Jan 1, 1869Labels: Grant Peace, Indian agents

   • Board Wiki

7. Congress ends treaty-making with tribes

   Mar 3, 1871Labels: 1871 Appropriations, U S

   • BIA FAQ
   • National Archives

8. Carlisle Indian Industrial School opens

   Nov 1, 1879Labels: Carlisle School, Boarding school

   • Carlisle Wiki
   • AP News

9. Crow Dog decision affirms tribal criminal jurisdiction

   Jan 1, 1883Labels: Ex parte, Tribal jurisdiction

   • SCHS

10. Code of Indian Offenses issued; Indian Courts created

    Mar 30, 1883Labels: Code of, Indian Courts

    • UND Commons
    • NLM

11. Major Crimes Act extends federal jurisdiction in Indian Country

    Mar 3, 1885Labels: Major Crimes, Federal jurisdiction

    • Kagama Wiki

12. United States v. Kagama upholds Major Crimes Act

    May 10, 1886Labels: United States, Supreme Court

    • Kagama Wiki

13. Dawes Act authorizes allotment of reservation lands

    Feb 8, 1887Labels: Dawes Act, Allotment policy

    • National Archives
    • Britannica