During the 19th century, the United States gained control over large amounts of territory in western North America, and encouraged Americans to settle these frontier lands. However, their arrival disrupted the many Native American tribes living in the West, resulting in numerous clashes and small conflicts throughout the region. Many of the so-called Indian Wars occurred during the period between 1866 and 1890, as the U.S. government attempted to subdue the Native Americans and confine them to reservations so that their former lands could be settled. This book in the MAJOR U.S. HISTORICAL WARS series examines the events that led to conflicts on the American frontier between settlers and the Native Americans who lived there. It discusses the political and military strategies that U.S. and Native American leaders employed, and provides information about key people, battles, and events. Ultimately, the success of American troops enabled the establishment of a nation that would stretch from Atlantic to Pacific, ending forever the traditional way of life of the Native Americans.
