Sand Creek Massacre Research Paper

The Sand Creek Massacre, a tragic event in American history, occurred on November 29, 1864, in southeastern Colorado Territory. It was perpetrated by the Colorado Territory militia, led by Colonel John Chivington, against the peaceful encampment of Cheyennes and Arapaho people. This massacre took place during the height of the American Civil War and amid escalating tensions between settlers and Native American tribes over land rights and resources in the West. Despite assurances of safety from the U.S. government, the Cheyenne and Arapaho people were brutally attacked, resulting in the deaths of over 200, which were mostly women, children, and elderly. The massacre shocked the nation and sparked controversy, leading to congressional investigations and debates over the treatment of Native …show more content…
While verifiable historical events and the ongoing presence of the Cheyenne and Arapaho nations lend credibility to the argument, proving it also requires a grasp of the greater context of indigenous sovereignty efforts throughout history. The Sand Creek Massacre marked a tragic turning point in the erosion of cultural preservation among Indigenous peoples, as the devastating event disrupted traditional ways of life, inflicted trauma, and resulted in the loss of vital cultural practices and knowledge for generations to come. The “History Colorado” conveys, “We ran about two miles up the creek, I think, and then came to a place where the banks were very high and steep. Here a large body of Indians had stopped under the shelter of the banks, and the older men and the women had dug holes or pits under the banks, in which the people were now hiding.” Due to the massacre it destroyed the traditional ways of life, caused trauma, and resulted in the loss of important cultural practices and traditions for future

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