When and why did the Battle of Little Bighorn take place?

When and why did the Battle of Little Bighorn take place?

On June 25, 1876, Native American forces led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull defeat the U.S. Army troops of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer in the Battle of the Little Bighorn near southern Montana’s Little Bighorn River.

Why did the Battle of Little Bighorn happen for kids?

Soon, the United States decided they wanted the Black Hills land from the Indian tribes so they could freely mine the gold. When the Indians refused to give up the land, the U.S. decided to force the Indian tribes out of the Black Hills. An army was sent to attack any Indian villages and remaining tribes in the region.

When did the Battle of Little Bighorn happen?

June 25, 1876
Battle of the Little Bighorn/Start dates
The Battle of the Little Bighorn was fought along the ridges, steep bluffs, and ravines of the Little Bighorn River, in south-central Montana on June 25-26, 1876.

Where did the Battle of Little Bighorn happen?

Little Bighorn River
Big Horn County
Battle of the Little Bighorn/Locations

The Battle of the Little Bighorn, fought on June 25, 1876, near the Little Bighorn River in Montana Territory, pitted federal troops led by Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer (1839-76) against a band of Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne warriors.

Why was the Battle of Little Bighorn so important?

Custer was unaware of the number of Indians fighting under the command of Sitting Bull (c. 1831-90) at Little Bighorn, and his forces were outnumbered and quickly overwhelmed in what became known as Custer’s Last Stand.

What went wrong at the Battle of Little Bighorn?

Custer died by two bullet wounds Custer had suffered two bullet wounds, one near his heart and one in the head. It’s unclear which wound killed him or if the head wound happened before or after he died. In the heat of battle, it’s unlikely the warrior who shot Custer knew he’d just killed a U.S. Army icon.

Who started the Battle of Little Bighorn?

Colonel George Armstrong Custer