They appealed to the U.S. government to stop the increase of
white settlements along the Bozeman Trail because the white settlers were now
encroaching into their ancestral lands. The trail also provided a shortcut that
enabled people to travel from Virginia City, Montana to Central Wyoming. This provides a faster route to the Oregon
Trail which as an important route to the West Coast. However, this route also passed through
Native American territory. The Lakota,
Arapaho and Shosone inhabited these area.
This led to conflict as Indians launched attacks against white settlers. In response, the U.S. Army led a campaign
against these tribes.
