What was going on in America when Geronimo was growing up?

When Geronimo was growing up in the mid to late 19th century, America was experiencing significant changes due to westward expansion, the aftermath of the Civil War, and the increasing encroachment of settlers on Native American lands. The U.S. government was implementing policies aimed at assimilating Native Americans and often resorted to military force to suppress resistance. This period saw the rise of conflicts such as the Apache Wars, which directly affected Geronimo and his people as they fought to defend their territory and way of life against American expansionism.