GCSE History (Pearson IGCSE)

The American West Topic Summaries

Reconstruction era (1865–1877)

Conflict with the Plains Indians

  Little Crow’s War (1862) Sand Creek Massacre (1864) Red Cloud’s War (1866– 1868) The Great Sioux War (1876-1877)
Cause Little Crow’s tribe, living on a reservation in Minnesota, suffered severe food shortages after crop failures. The Cheyenne, led by Black Kettle, faced starvation and resorted to taking food from passing travellers. The Bozeman Trail passed through Sioux hunting grounds to reach Montana’s goldfields, violating the First Fort Laramie Treaty. The US government violated the Second Fort Laramie Treaty when Custer discovered gold in the Black Hills and tried to buy the land for $6 million. The Sioux refused and were given 60 days to move to a reservation
Events In desperation, they took food from agency buildings, killed US soldiers, and burnt property. The US responded harshly, executing 38 Native Americans who were captured or surrendered. Black Kettle moved his people to a peaceful camp, but Colonel Chivington’s forces attacked, killing around 163 Cheyenne, mostly women and children. The Sioux, led by Red Cloud, ambushed and killed Captain Fetterman and his men in what became known as the Fetterman Trap. Sioux forces clashed with the US military, including the Battle of the Little Bighorn where Custer was outnumbered, defeated, killed, and scalped. A Lakota war leader named Crazy Horse united Sioux and Cheyenne forces but was eventually forced to surrender and killed.
Consequences Many died from the conflict, poor soil, or harsh winters. Survivors were forced onto even smaller reservations. The massacre provoked widespread retaliation, with Native tribes attacking ranches and settlements, resulting in further settler deaths. The US army withdrew, and Red Cloud signed the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, which established a large Sioux reservation in the Black Hills. The Sioux resistance was defeated. Native Americans lost the Black Hills and were confined to reservations.

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