The Westward Expansion was a movement westward for jobs, land, hope, and new beginnings. This occurred between 1850 to the 1890s. The Westward Expansion effected many tribes. One of those tribes were the Arapahos. The Westward Expansion effected the Arapahos’ ecosystem, trade, need for resources, and the economy. All of the elements listed are needed for a tribe to thrive. Who are the Arapahos? “Arapaho” is derived from the Pawnee word meaning “trader” and from the crow tribe's term for “Tattooed people," or is also identified as “cloud people." Arapahos’ territory expands from the Big Horn Mountains in the North, in the South to Arkansas to modern day Western Nebraska and Kansas and to Southern Wyoming and Eastern Colorado. It is said that there was about 16,000 Arapaho in 1875 residing in …show more content…
Throughout the duration of the 19th century, the settlers along the Santa Fe and Oregon trails interrupted the migratory patterns of the bison that the Arapaho hunted and feasted on. The lack of hunting and farming also affected the culture of the Arapaho. The Arapaho often held hunting ceremonies. The lack of bison caused the Arapaho to depend heavily on trading instead of hunting and farming. The Arapaho trading greatly increased during the Westward Expansion. The Arapaho acquired horses and in return traded buffalo hides, meat, and horses. Arapaho trading was at an all-time high during the Mid-18th century. They traded long distance from South West to the Missouri River villages and Mexican settlements. The Westward Expansion caused conflict between Eastern tribes and tribes in the West. So therefore, the Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes lusted for ammunition and other weapons to fight the Eastern tribes that were already supplied with weapons to conquer. Eventually, the Arapaho maintained safe passage for wagon trails in exchange for trade goods needed for