What was The Battle of Little Big Horn and why was it so significant?

Question

Custers last stand is a very significant battle fought in the Long Plains Indian War

Answer 1

While the battle of Little Bighorn was the most significant victory of Native American tribes over the U.S. Army, this event also marks a turning point in the relation of the plains Indians, particularly the Sioux, to the United States. After this great triumph, the plains tribes were inexorably forced to give up their nomadic way of life and moved onto reservations. This decline culminated less than 20 years later with the Wounded Knee Massacre.

"Custer's Last Stand" could be seen as a cautionary tale about the dangers of acting on poor intelligence and of bald-faced hubris on the part of a military commander. To sum it up, Custer's mission was reconnaissance not to attack the Native encampment. Custer took the decision upon himself to make the attack on what, unbeknownst to him was one of the greatest gatherings of the plains tribes ever assembled. It has been estimated there were no less than 10,000 people in this camp, probably many more. Custer either vastly underestimated the size of the Native force or he greatly overestimated the fighting prowess of his few hundred men.

It would appear that Custer made little or no effort to conceal their advance as they were spotted a few miles out. Even before he could mount a proper charge Custer's column was overwhelmed and surrounded by thousands of angry warriors. No one in Custer's 7th calvary survived. There are many accounts out there about this event and the details of what happened that day.

Looking at the big picture, as mentioned before, the Battle of Little Big Horn marked a turning point in the U.S. governments campaign against the plains Indians. The defeat of Custer turned public sentiment against the Native tribes and opened the door to even more restrictive policies and the eventual subjugation of all Native Americans into the reservation system.