The Battle of the Little Bighorn

The Battle of the Little Bighorn was significant for three main reasons. First, it
represented the most decisive victory of Native Americans in their longstanding tensions with
the federal government (History.com Editors). The win was also swift: General George
Armstrong Custer and two hundred of his men had been overpowered and killed by a band of
3,000 Native Americans within an hour of entering the Little Bighorn Valley. Second, the
battle marked the worst defeat of the U.S. Army in the longstanding American-Indian Wars,
pitting Native Americans first against the colonists and then the federal government. Third, as
a consequence of its humiliating defeat, the U.S. government stepped up its efforts to
overcome the tribes. So effective were the efforts that within five years into the battle,
virtually all the Cheyenne and the Sioux had been confined to Indian reservations.
Notable historical figures of the battle included General Custer, who led the 7 th
Calvary of federal troops on the one hand, and Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, who led the
Indian band on the other. On the morning of June 25, 1876 (the day of the battle), the General
decided to draw near the camp of the Indians and attack it instead of waiting for backup. He
likely undermined the numbers and abilities of the Indian warriors. On the Indian side, Sitting
Bull and Crazy Horse were leaders of the Sioux of the Great Plains. Since the mid-1800s, the
Sioux had persistently and viciously resisted the U.S. government’s attempts to confine their
tribespeople to Indian reservations (History). On the day of the battle, the older Sitting Bull
led a group of warriors in ensuring the safety of women and children. Crazy Horse led the
3,000 warriors in confronting the attackers.

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Works Cited

History. The Battle of the Little Bighorn. 29 October 2016. Web. 10 June 2022.
History.com Editors. Battle of the Little Bighorn. 30 November 2021. Web. 10 June 2022.