About the Lakota Sioux
- Seven Native Americans bands of the Great Plains1
- Western-most of Sioux groups, occupying The Dakotas (North and South)1
Treaty of Fort Laramie 1851
- Government negotiated with Lakota and other tribes regarding the rights of passage for immigrants, paid by Americans $50,000 in return for this2
- Natives allowed roads to be built on their land2
Great Sioux War
- 1876-1877: Between Lakota Sioux & Northern Cheyenne tribes residing in Dakotas, against Gov’t2
- Despite treaty, settlers exploited Dakota territory, officials considered harvesting rich timber resources of Black Hills2
- Several expeditions took place conducted by white settlers in Native territory2
- Conflict begun in result of failure of diplomatic negotiation2
- 3 major battles: Battle of Rosebud, Little Bighorn, Battle of Slim Buttes2
- All ended with US victory
Battle of Little Bighorn
- Tensions high over territory system in Black Hills South Dakota.3
- General Custer advanced to Little Bighorn River without orders3
- Following, US Army pursued Sioux until all had surrendered.3
- Battle of Little Bighorn July 25th 1876 a.k.a. “Custer’s Land Stand”, aroused hostility towards Aboriginal people3
- Symbolized military efforts against Native Americans, resistance to American Expansion3
Ghost Dance War
- Native resistance movement “Ghost Dancers” spread across the plains.4
- Less than 5 minutes, 150 Lakota dead, 25 US troops4
- Wounded Knee Massacre was last “chapter” to the long Indian American Wars.4
- Post Indian-American War, Native population in the United States fell for the next 20 years4
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1“Sioux Wars.” United States American History. http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1187.html (accessed December 9, 2012).
2“Encyclopedia of the Great Plains | SIOUX WARS.” Plains Humanities Alliance | Center for Great Plains Studies | University of Nebraska–Lincoln. http://plainshumanities.unl.edu/encyclopedia/doc/egp.war.044 (accessed December 9, 2012).
3Smithsonian Magazine. “How the Battle of Little Bighorn Was Won | History & Archaeology | Smithsonian Magazine.” History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places | Smithsonian Magazine. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/How-the-Battle-of-Little-Bighorn-Was-Won.html (accessed December 9, 2012).
4 “PBS – THE WEST – Pvt. W. H. Prather, “The Indian Ghost Dance and War” (1890).” PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/resources/archives/eight/wkballad.htm (accessed December 9, 2012).
