1875-1899 Era | Lesson 1: Trial of Standing Bear

In 1875, Nebraska’s Poncas were forced to travel over 500 miles to a nonexistent reservation—their “Trail of Tears”—because the U.S. government had granted the same land to two different tribes. The terrible conditions of the journey and on the reservation cost lives. Chief Standing Bear returned to Nebraska to bury his son and was arrested. Aided by interpreter Susette La Flesche Tibbles, he gave eloquent testimony at trial and won a verdict establishing the humanity and legal rights of Native Americans.