This marked the end of any structured opposition from

tribes onto reservations and killing any resistant Native Americans. This marked the end of any
structured opposition from the Indians of the Southern Plains. General Sheridan had used five
groups of troops to enforce his policy and within a year the Comanche and Kiowa were defeated
with no resistors left and the remaining Natives forced onto reservations.
The Battle of the Little Bighorn, on June 25, 1876, was the result of the Cheyenne and
Sioux tribes' outrage over the white settlers and Army continued refusal to leave their sacred
Black Hill lands. The U.S. Army had organized 3 convoys of troops (one of which was General
Custer's 7th Cavalry) to combat the two tribes that had left their reservations. They thought it
would be an easy battle but the Army had underestimated the amount of Indian warriors; over
3000 had gathered to the Black Hills to attend the Sioux Sun Dance ceremony. Despite this
General Custer and his 7th Cavalry decided to enter the Little Bighorn Valley alone. In a foolish

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attempt at glory, the general's impatience caused the death of all 243 men of the cavalry.
Although this was a victory for the Native Americans (confirming the vision of a Sioux leader
(Sitting Bull)), it also marked the beginning of the end for them. Custer's Last Stand angered the
public who called for revenge over the massacre. With the American army's commitment to
defeating the Indians, the surviving tribe members were permanently confined to reservations by
1890.