the american government pushed west and this led to conflict, including the indians wars. the plains wars were from the 1850s to 1870s. notable examples of wars include the dakota war, great sioux war, snake war and colorado war. natives resisted us american populations. in 1890, many natives were killed in the wounded knee massacre. after the 1850s, the horse culture of the plains indians ended as tribes were moved to indian reservations.