Transcontinental Railroad Expansion

Since the Transcontinental Railroad was created, the Native Americans land and culture was impacted by the Western Expansion. People thought the railroad was a positive thing because it improved transportation and communication, but many Native Americans were harmed because of it. During the years of 1850 to 1890, the Native Americans were forced off their land because they were in the way of the making of the railroad and the discovery of gold. Also, Americans broke the treaty of Fort Laramie, caused the Battle of Little Bighorn, and lost many lives because of their selfishness for the gold. In addition to that, Native American’s culture changed throughout time. The more developed and stronger culture took control of the weaker culture. Lastly, the buffalo, an important concept of living for the

The Native Americans lost about 1.5 billion acres of their land due to the Americans. (Onion) The 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, was for the Lakota people only, no people from the United States were allowed to be there. But the recent gold discovery in South Dakota left the Americans thinking. Should they break the treaty of there to be no Americans allowed in the land and to get gold, or just leave it alone and hope gold shows up some other place? Of course they were not going to let the Native Americans have all the gold for themselves. So, the Americans invaded Little Bighorn Valley, a Native American territory, and started the Battle of Little Bighorn. (Article 3) Luckily, it was three thousand Native Americans versus two hundred Americans, causing the Native Americans to win and keep their land. (Staff) Just three months later, United States offered six million dollars for the Black Hills. The Native Americans declined several times, making the Americans furious. Therefore, on September 9, 1876 the battle of Slim Buttes begins. They battled until the Native Americans surrendered