Little Crow S War (1861-62)

Little Crow’s War (1861-62) In 1861 the government decided to move all Plains Indians to special areas called reservations. They would be given annual cash payments and learn how to become self-sufficient farmers

“The whites were always trying to make the Indians give up their life and live like white men – go to farming, work hard and do as they did – and the Indians did not know how to do that, and did not want to anyway” Big Eagle, a Santee Sioux leader

Causes 12,000 Santee Sioux lived on a reservation in southern Minnesota. In 1861 cutworms destroyed their corn crops so they had to live on credit in order to eat. When their annual cash payment did not arrive in June 1862 their credit was stopped leaving them unable to buy food.

What happened? Little Crow tried to restrain his starving people but on 17th August 1862 four Santee Sioux men killed five settlers. The next day Little Crow led an attack on the Indian Agency in which twenty people were killed, ten women and children captured and forty seven escaped. Little Crow also ambushed the soldiers coming to the aid of the agency – only 21 survived. The fighting continued into September but Little Crow did not hold a large enough force to defeat the US army and he was not able to convince any other groups to join him. Santee Sioux warriors carried out attacks on settlers killing over seven hundred. As a result massive army reinforcement were sent in (they were actually taken away from Civil War battles). In this situation it was impossible for the Santee Sioux to win, Little Crow and some of his followers escaped westwards and the rest of the Santee Sioux surrendered to General Sibley.

“The most horrible massacres have been committed; children nailed alive to trees and houses; women violated and killed” General John Pope

Results By October 2000 Santee Sioux had been captured or surrendered. Many warriors were sentenced to death and the remainder of the tribe were transferred to a new reservation on the Missouri River. The new reservation was a much worse situation. The land was barren, the water was unfit for drinking and food was scarce. During the first winter there nearly 400 died. Red Cloud’s War 1865-1868 Causes In 1862 gold was discovered in the Rocky Mountains of Montana. Miners rushed to the area following a new trail known as the Bozeman Trail. This trail crossed Sioux Lands, breaking the Fort Laramie Treaty (1851). The government failed to stop the miners from breaking the treaty so the Sioux began to attack travellers along the trail.

What happened? In 1866 the government opened Peace Talks with Red Cloud while at the same time ordering the US army to begin work on a chain of forts along the trail. This caused Red Cloud to break off the peace talks and by the winter of that year the soldiers were under siege in their forts. Since the better armaments of the soldiers prevented the capture of the forts, Red Cloud surrounded them so the soldiers were not able to leave and travellers could not use the Bozeman Trail. Red Crow was able to keep together many bands of Sioux, plus their allies the Arapho and the Cheyenne, and keep them fighting through the winter months. He also attempted to persuade the Crow (enemies of the Sioux) to join the fight. This was unsuccessful but kept the army on the defence.

Results In 1868 the government realised that the Sioux could not be defeated and by this stage a new route to the gold mining routes had been found. In the second Fort Laramie Treaty (1868) the Great Sioux Reservation was created. No non- Indian settlers were to be allowed to enter this land. When the soldiers withdrew the Sioux burnt down their forts. This was Red Cloud’s last fight against the US army. Not all Sioux agreed with the treaty and his power decreased with the Sioux preferring to follow more militant leaders such as Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.

The Great Sioux War (1876-77) Causes In 1874 the seventh cavalry led by Custer were sent into the Black Hills to find out if there was gold there. This broke the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868. Gold was found causing the Black Hills to be invaded by miners (at least 1000 by 1875) who were not stopped by the government. The Sioux were made an offer of $6 million for the Black Hills. This was quickly rejected as for the Sioux the Black Hills were sacred.

What happened? In December 1875 all Sioux were ordered to return to their reservations. Giving the conditions of winter this was not possible. There were 7000 Sioux, Arapaho and Cheyenne who remained with Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse in Powder River Country, protesting about the Black Hills by refusing to return to the reservation. By February 1876, the army was instructed to treat all Indians outside the reservation as hostile. This led to the Battle of the Little Bighorn which was a great victory for the Indians.

Results The public reaction to the army defeat was one of great shock. Two new forts were built on the Yellowstone River and 2500 reinforcements were sent west. The army continued to attack the bands of Indians throughout the autumn and winter. The Sioux found it difficult to fight while protecting the women and children. They were also short of food and ammunition. One by one the bands of Sioux gave in and returned to the reservation. 4th May 1877 Sitting Bull escaped over the border to Canada, the next day Crazy Horse surrendered at the reservation. The armed resistance of the Sioux was over. The Sioux were forced to sell the Black Hills, Powder River Country and the Bighorn Mountains. They were put under military rule and more land was taken from the Sioux reservation. Finally, they lost their horses and weapons.

Task One

Copy (onto a double page) and complete the table on the wars fought by the Sioux and the US government

Task Two

What were the strengths and weaknesses of Little Crow, Red Cloud and Sitting Bull? Who do you think was the most effective leader?