What was the impact of the Battle of the Little Bighorn?

Learning Objectives All can describe the Battle of Little Bighorn and how it changed attitudes. Most can explain why attitudes and policy changed as a result of the Battle. Some can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the two sides.

The Battle of Little Bighorn 25th June 1876

Army Orders 1876 Some of the Sioux have left their reservation. They are to be treated as hostile and forced to return. General Sheridan has prepared the plan of campaign.

Gibbon & Terry meet up & then forces divide Fort Abraham Lincoln Fort Ellis General Terry With 1000 cavalry, infantry & Gatling guns Colonel Gibbon With 450 Infantry That’s me, going south! AND ME! Bighorn River Crook is attacked & turns back General Crook with 1049 cavalry & infantry Fort Fetterman

The Indian Village The Indian village was far larger than Custer imagined. It contained an estimated 8,000 Indians and more than 3,000 warriors and was led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. The village was three miles long and a half mile wide. (Custer had initially estimated the village's population did not exceed 1,500). He was warned the 7th Cavalry didn’t have enough bullets to kill all the Indians but attacked anyway. ‘Our first impulse was to escape with our squaws and papooses, but we were so hemmed in that we had to fight.’ Crazy Horse

Sitting Bull Custer Crazy Horse

(OB) p. 143-144 (NB) p. 81-82 Read the account of the battle.

Write captions on the story board with key details from the events of the Battle.

Battle of Rosebud River A 3 way attack was planned. General Crook’s force General Terry decided Using his Indian Scouts Custer Captain Benteen to attack from west and Major Reno to attack from the south. General Custer: There were about Terry arrived and found Battle of Rosebud River

Battle of Rosebud River 3 way attack planned. Gibbon to attack from North-west. Crook to attack from South and Custer (from Terry’s force) to follow trail and attack from South, in combination with Gibbon Crook’s force made camp and were attacked on 17th June 1876. Terry continues with the plan. Using his Indian scouts, Custer takes his force of 600 cavalry and finds the Indians on 25th June 1876. C aptain Benteen to attack from west and Major Reno to attack from the south. Reno stopped by a large force of warriors and Benteen went to help. Surrounded by Indians they cannot help Custer. General Custer to attack from north. Probably didn’t get across river. Met by Indians on horseback & then by a further well armed force. Probably fought for 1 hour. There are about 7,000 Indians including 2,000 warriors, but Custer wont wait for Gibbon’s force. He splits his own force into 3. Terry arrived on 27th June. Found the 225 bodies of Custer’s men. Most stripped, scalped but not Custer Battle of Rosebud River

(NB) Page 84/ 85 How did the Battle change public opinion? Activities 1 and 2.

Part One The Indian Wars

What caused Little Crow to go to war? (2) What happened to the Santee Sioux at the end of the war? (2) Which new trail led to Red Cloud’s war? (1) What did Red Cloud do to Fort Phil Kearney? (2) What did the Fort Laramie Treaty create and what did it specify? (2) What were the aims of the expedition into the Black Hills in 1874? (2) Why did the Sioux reject the money offered for this land or its mineral rights? (2) Which other Indian nations fought alongside Sitting Bull and the Sioux? (2) What was the name of the Battle that the Indians won? (1)

His people were starving due to poor crop and a missed cash payment from the government. (2) Some were executed. Others placed on a really poor reservation. (2) The Bozeman trail. (1) Besieged it (1). Later burnt it (1). Set up The Great Sioux reservation (1) and specified no whites were allowed to enter that land (1). Protect railway surveyors (1) see if there was gold (1). It was a sacred place (1).Where their nation began (1) Arapaho (1), Cheyenne (1). The Battle of the Little Bighorn (1). Mark out of 16.

How did the US Army help to destroy the Indians’ way of life?

Two fighting forces at the start Indians Tactics. Guerrilla – hit and run. Skills. Living of land which they knew well, excellent horsemen. Motivation Fighting for life and family US Army Tactics Set piece battles Strength of force About 15,715 men in 52 forts. Difficulties Vast area of 4 million square kms. Poor conditions. Away from home.

(NB) Page 86. Why were the Army able to help defeat the Indians? How did the Indians help the Army? How were forts used? What weapons did the Army have? What tactics did the Army eventually use?

Part 2 The US Army in the West

What was the nickname given to black soldiers by the Indians? (1) What were the advantages of using Indian Scouts (4). Give 2 effects of Civil War on the Indian situation. (2) What were the two new tactics introduced by General Sheridan? (2)

Buffalo Soldiers (1). Knew land (1), tactics (1), could track (1), knew locations (1). Volunteers caused problems (1) returning soldiers were trained/ disciplined (1). Total War (1) Winter campaigns (1). Mark out of 9

Total out of 25 Write your mark on the bottom of the sheet. 20 - 25 You are as clever as Curley the Scout! 15 – 19 Like Custer you have good days and bad days – not too bad but not great! 10 – 14 You have the motivation of an army deserter! Put that Playstation away and do some work! 0 - 9 Be warned – General Sheridan Hill will embark on a policy of total war if you don’t start working harder!