SHADOWS OF SAND CREEK: THE SAND CREEK MASSACRE AS A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN WEST

Abstract

The Sand Creek Massacre was a momentarily brief attack perpetrated by Colorado militiamen against Cheyenne and Arapaho villagers that proved horrific enough in its execution to produce a black eye on the history of the United States. What followed was a series of retaliatory raids by the Cheyenne and Arapaho against the frontier inhabitants of the Great Plains. In this thesis, I argue that Sand Creek represents a turning point in the history of the West as it brought about an end to the Borderland society that had existed before Sand Creek and laid the foundation for Federal Reconstruction in the region. I begin by providing a brief overview of the history of the Massacre and its subsequent aftermath. From there, I attempt to provide a context of the event in the preexisting historiography of Borderlands and Greater Reconstruction. I will then attempt to recommend how to incorporated this thesis into the current interpretive efforts of the National Park Service at the site of the Massacre. First, by providing an overview of the current interpretive efforts of the site and then concluding with recommendations for future efforts in order to widen both the scope and appreciation of the event for future visitors.