Key topic 3: Later developments in the West, c1876–c1895 - 2 Conflict and…

The idea

The Battle of the Little Big Horn (1876) occurred after the Sioux refused to sell the Black Hills following a gold rush. General Custer attacked a massive Sioux and Cheyenne encampment, resulting in the annihilation of his immediate command. Though a Native American victory, the impact was disastrous: a shocked US public demanded harsh retaliation, leading to the forced surrender of the Sioux. By 1890, desperation on reservations sparked the Ghost Dance movement. Fearing an uprising, the US army attempted to disarm a Lakota band at Wounded Knee. A scuffle led to troops opening fire, massacring over 250 men, women, and children. This tragedy effectively ended Plains Indian resistance and finalised their subjugation.

What earns the marks

• Explain the causes of the Battle of the Little Big Horn, including the Black Hills gold rush and the breaking of the Fort Laramie Treaty.
• Detail the tactical failures of General Custer and the overwhelming numerical superiority of the Native American forces.
• Analyse the impact of the battle, specifically how it shifted US government policy towards total subjugation and forced assimilation of the Plains Indians.
• Explain the origins of the Ghost Dance movement as a spiritual response to the dire conditions on the reservations.
• Detail the events of the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890 and its significance as the final major violent encounter between the US army and Plains Indians.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Viewing Little Big Horn as a long-term victory for the Plains Indians.

  Put it right by explaining that it provoked a massive US military response that destroyed their independence.

• Confusing the Battle of the Little Big Horn with the Wounded Knee Massacre.

  Put it right by distinguishing the 1876 military battle from the 1890 massacre of mostly unarmed Ghost Dancers.

• Stating Custer was ambushed.

  Put it right by noting Custer initiated the attack but severely underestimated the size of the Native American camp.

Exam tips

• When discussing the impact of Little Big Horn, focus on the change in public opinion and government policy.
• Use Wounded Knee to illustrate the tragic culmination of the reservation policy and the destruction of the Plains Indians' traditional way of life.
• Link the discovery of gold in the Black Hills directly to the failure of the reservation system and the outbreak of the Great Sioux War.