While fighting between Cowboys and Indians made Hollywood millions, it was hardly the romantic period shown on film, and it cost the United States millions as well. In order to alleviate future altercations between white settlers and Native Americans, and save costs, Congress signed three treaties with Native American tribes.
On this day October 21st, in 1867, the Medicine Lodge Treaty is signed. It was one of the three treaties signed with the Plains Apache; the other two being with Kiowa and Comanche, as well as Arapaho and Cheyenne. The tribes were to move westward, as the goal post-Civil War was to continue expanding the United States.
The United States in certain ways reneged on certain agreements in the treaty. If the natives were to move, the U.S. was supposed to supply them with money, food, and clothing. It was pushed off and many natives were starving and began kidnapping settlers, partially to get some ransom, and partially out of anger. Neither side upheld its end of the bargain; however, in legal settlements during the mid-20th century, the tribes were compensated with millions of dollars.