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Glossary of Terms

Gold deposits The ‘Indian Problem’ Bozeman Trail

Places where gold could What the US A trail used by white miners
be found easily, such as government called the from 1862 which passed
in rivers. Areas such as conflicts between Native through Sioux land.
The Black Hills of Amerians and White
Dakota contained gold Americans.
deposits but were on
Homesteaders Reservation System
Indian Land.
Were immigrants
Treaties A system enforced by the
(mainly from European, US government in which
Written agreements countries) who were
between the US American Indians could
given free land under keep their citizenship in
Government and Indian the homestead law.
tribes, meant to protect their independent tribes
They were allowed to while being confined in
Indian land from build houses and farms
occupation by white specific areas.
on the Great Plains.
settlers.
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The beginning of reservations

THE RESERVATION SYSTEM. After the

After 1830, many American Indians creation of the
were forced to live on reservations by Kansas and
the US government, which said Nebraska
American Indians could maintain their territories,
independent tribes while being more white
confined to specific areas. people
settled on the
Despite early promises of food, Plains. As a
supplies, money and protection, most result, many
Indians lived a hard life in the tribes were
reservations. They were unable to hunt forced into Map of Indian reservations in the United States
buffalo as part of their diet and culture. smaller
Moreover, they faced conflict with reservations.
other tribes and white settlers.
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The US Government makes a treaty

THE TREATY WITH THE SIOUX

In 1868 the US Government closed A copy of the
the Bozeman Trail and signed a Fort Laramie
Treaty of 1868
peace treaty at Fort Laramie. It gave
the Sioux a very large reservation
area, including all of their hunting
grounds.

The United States recognized the

Black Hills as part of the Great Sioux
Reservation forever. Only Sioux
people were allowed to go there.
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The Battle of the Little Bighorn

BACKGROUND.
In 1875, gold deposits were discovered in South
Dakota’s Black Hills by General Custer. An invasion
by the US Army followed, which broke previous
treaties. In response to this betrayal, Sioux and
Cheyenne people left their reservations and joined
Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse in Montana.

GOVERNMENT ACTION.
On June 25, 1876, Lieutenant Colonel George
Armstrong Custer and his troops fought against a
band of Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne warriors near the
Little Bighorn River in Montana.
Depiction of the Battle of the Little Bighorn
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The Battle of the Little Bighorn

BEFORE THE BATTLE.

On June 22, General
Terry ordered General
Custer and the 7th
Cavalry, composed of 31
officers and 566
soldiers, to begin a
reconnaissance and
pursue the Indians along
the Rosebud River.

Custer was told to wait

for General Crook and
General Terry’s columns
to arrive before attacking
the Indian camp.
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Why did Custer lose the Battle of the Little Bighorn?

CUSTER DIDN’T WAIT

The plan was for three
columns of soldiers to
surround the Indian
camp. Custer was told to
wait for reinforcements
(more US soldiers). But
instead he planned a
surprise attack for the
next day. Custer had
been offered the use
of Gatling guns (machine
guns) but refused to take
them, believing they
would slow his men
down.
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Why did Custer lose?

CUSTER WAS OUTNUMBERED BY

SITTING BULL, CRAZY HORSE AND
THEIR WARRIORS.

Chief Sitting Bull and Chief Crazy

Horse had about 3000 Indian
warriors camped in the Little Bighorn
Valley. These Lakota warriors had
been joined by Cheyenne and
Arapaho warriors.

Custer did not know the size of the

“Sitting Bull was a chief. He was a charismatic leader and war
Indian camp. He thought that there leader and won the following of his people,” said LaDonna
were 800 Indians there. Brave Bull Allard, Standing Rock.
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Why did Custer lose the Battle of the Little Bighorn?

CUSTER DIVIDED
HIS TROOPS
Before Custer took
the 7th Cavalry
towards the Indian
camp, he divided his
12 companies (about
600 men) into three
battalions. Custer
commanded one,
with General Reno
and General
Benteen in charge of
the other two.
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Why did Custer lose?

CUSTER CHARGED AHEAD OF RENO AND

BENTEEN
General Reno attacked the southern end of the
Indian camp but was stopped by the Indians
and retreated. He was joined by General
Benteen. Both Reno and Benteen were
attacked by Indians, who prevented them from
reaching Custer and his men.

Custer charged towards the Indian camp with

about 210 soldiers. He was surrounded by
about 3000 Indian warriors.

The battle lasted about an hour. Custer and all

his men were killed.