WAR ON THE PLAINS

Who is involved?  The Sioux Indians  They had always lived in the Black Hills in the Dakotas  General Custer’s Men (U.S. Army)  Custer found gold in the Black Hills

How did the American People see the Indians?

Reservations  The Native Americans were sent to reservations  Lacked food and resources  Tried to Assimilate Indian children Changing your customs and culture to fit in with mainstream culture  Many battles were fought in this struggle for land and identity

Battle of Little Bighorn  Commonly known as Custer’s Last Stand  June 1876  The army tried to force the Sioux out in order to have access to the gold in the Black Hills  The Sioux Indians won the battle  Did it help them in the long term?

Let’s Look to the Sources!  We will look at two maps to see the changes in Sioux territory over time  Then we will read two stories written by people who were actually at the Battle of Little Bighorn