The Battle of the Little Big Horn, 1876 (Edexcel GCSE History): Revision Notes
The Battle of the Little Big Horn, 1876
Overview
The year 1876 marked a crucial turning point in the history of the American West. The Battle of the Little Big Horn became one of the most significant conflicts between the United States Army and Indigenous peoples of the Plains. This battle fundamentally changed US government policy towards Native American tribes and had devastating long-term consequences for Indigenous ways of life.
This battle is also known as "Custer's Last Stand" and represents one of the most famous military defeats in American history. It occurred during the same year as America's centennial celebration, making the defeat particularly shocking to the American public.
The conflict involved the Sioux nation and their allies fighting against the US 7th Cavalry led by General George Custer. What made this battle particularly shocking was that it resulted in a complete defeat of the US forces, with Custer and 225 of his soldiers killed.
Background and causes
The complex causes of this conflict stemmed from broken treaties, economic interests, and cultural misunderstandings that had been building for years.
The Fort Laramie Treaty (1868)
The roots of this conflict trace back to the Fort Laramie Treaty signed in 1868. Under this agreement, the Sioux were granted a substantial reservation in South Dakota, and they were guaranteed the right to roam freely in the sacred Black Hills region. Crucially, the treaty prohibited any white settlement or gold prospecting in this area, making it a protected zone for the Sioux people.
Railroad development and broken promises
As America expanded westward, the Northern Pacific Railroad began extending closer to Sioux territory. General George Custer was assigned to lead the 7th Cavalry to protect the railroad construction crews and survey teams. However, during these operations, something happened that would change everything - Custer and his men discovered gold in the Black Hills.
The gold rush and government pressure
Once news of gold spread, prospectors began making claims throughout the Black Hills region. This created a serious problem for the US government, which was technically bound by the Fort Laramie Treaty to keep whites out of this area. Instead of enforcing the treaty, the government chose a different approach.
The discovery of gold created an impossible situation for the US government. They could either honour their treaty obligations and keep prospectors out, or allow the violation of the treaty to proceed. Unfortunately, economic interests won over legal and moral obligations.
The US government made an offer to purchase the Black Hills from the Sioux for $6 million, or alternatively, to pay $400,000 per year for mineral rights. When the Sioux refused this offer, tensions escalated rapidly. Many Sioux bands decided to leave their designated reservations rather than accept what they saw as an unfair deal.
Events leading to battle
The ultimatum
In December 1875, the US government issued a 60-day ultimatum to all Sioux bands. They were ordered to return to their reservations immediately or face military action. This deadline was particularly harsh because it was issued during deep winter conditions, making travel extremely difficult and dangerous for families with children and elderly members.
The timing of this ultimatum was particularly cruel. Issuing a 60-day deadline in the middle of winter, when travelling with families was nearly impossible, suggests the government may have wanted the Sioux to fail to comply, giving them justification for military action.
Gathering of Native forces
Rather than comply with the ultimatum, over 7,000 Indigenous warriors from various tribes gathered together by spring 1876. This represented one of the largest assemblies of Native American fighting forces in the history of the Indian Wars. The coalition included not only Sioux warriors but also members of the Cheyenne tribe and other allied groups.
Victory at Rosebud River
Before the famous battle at Little Big Horn, there was an earlier engagement that boosted Native confidence. On June 17, 1876, Chiefs Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse led their warriors to victory against General Crook's forces at the Rosebud River. This success encouraged more warriors to join their cause and demonstrated that the US Army could be defeated in battle.
The battle itself
Custer's approach
On June 25, 1876, General Custer decided to attack the large Native American encampment along the Little Big Horn River. However, Custer made several critical tactical errors that would prove fatal.
Custer's mistakes
Critical Tactical Errors by Custer:
Several factors contributed to Custer's defeat. Some historians blame Custer himself for the army's crushing loss at Little Big Horn. He should have waited for backup, but instead chose to attack immediately when he spotted the Indigenous encampment. The Native warriors had already demonstrated their fighting ability at Rosebud River, yet Custer seemed to underestimate their strength.
Custer commanded only 600 soldiers, and he made the dangerous decision to split this already small force into even smaller groups. This meant that when they encountered the massive gathering of over 7,000 warriors, they were heavily outnumbered and easily overwhelmed.
Consequences and impact
The aftermath of the Battle of the Little Big Horn had far-reaching consequences that fundamentally changed the relationship between the US government and Native American tribes.
Immediate aftermath
The deaths of General Custer and his troops sent shockwaves throughout white American society. Before this battle, many Americans had favoured attempting to reach peaceful agreements with Indigenous peoples. However, the scale of this military defeat changed public opinion dramatically. Many white Americans now wanted to completely destroy Native American resistance or at least eliminate their traditional ways of life.
Military response
The US government's response was swift and overwhelming. Two new forts were constructed, and 2,500 additional army reinforcements were dispatched to the West. This massive military buildup was designed to ensure that no similar defeats would occur in the future.
The scale of the military response shows how seriously the US government took this defeat. The deployment of 2,500 additional troops represented one of the largest military escalations in the Indian Wars.
Pursuit of Native leaders
The government launched intensive campaigns to capture the Native American leaders who had orchestrated this victory. The pursuit continued relentlessly until most of the Cheyenne and Sioux were forced back onto their reservations. Crazy Horse, one of the key military leaders, was eventually captured and later killed while trying to escape from custody.
Sitting Bull's exile
Chief Sitting Bull managed to lead his people across the border into Canada to avoid capture. However, food shortages and other hardships eventually forced his return to the United States, where he surrendered in 1881.
Loss of the Black Hills
Perhaps the most devastating long-term consequence was the forced sale of the Black Hills and other traditional Sioux lands. The Sioux were compelled to give up their weapons and horses, and they were placed under strict military supervision on their reservations.
This represented a complete violation of the original Fort Laramie Treaty and the permanent loss of sacred lands that had been guaranteed to the Sioux people.
End of resistance
These harsh measures made it extremely difficult for the Sioux to continue their resistance against US expansion. The government was now under enormous pressure to completely end Indigenous opposition to westward settlement, and its policies became increasingly focused on achieving this goal regardless of the catastrophic consequences for Native American communities.
Timeline of key events
- 1868: Fort Laramie Treaty grants Sioux reservation and protects Black Hills
- Early 1870s: Northern Pacific Railroad approaches Sioux territory; Custer discovers gold in Black Hills
- December 1875: US government issues 60-day ultimatum to Sioux bands
- Spring 1876: Over 7,000 Indigenous warriors gather for resistance
- June 17, 1876: Native forces defeat General Crook at Rosebud River
- June 25, 1876: Battle of the Little Big Horn - Custer and 225 soldiers killed
- 1876-1881: US military pursues Native leaders; Crazy Horse captured and killed
- 1881: Sitting Bull returns from Canada and surrenders
- Post-1876: Sioux forced to sell Black Hills and submit to military rule
Key Points to Remember:
- The Battle of the Little Big Horn was a complete defeat for the US Army, with General Custer and 225 soldiers killed by a coalition of over 7,000 Native American warriors
- The battle was caused by violations of the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty, particularly the discovery of gold in the sacred Black Hills and the government's failure to protect Sioux territory
- Custer made critical tactical errors including splitting his small 600-man force and attacking without waiting for reinforcements
- The battle's aftermath led to massive military reinforcements, the pursuit and capture of Native leaders like Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, and the forced sale of the Black Hills
- This defeat marked a turning point that ultimately led to the end of major Native American resistance and had catastrophic consequences for Indigenous ways of life in the American West