The Defeat of the 7th Cavalry: Impact on the Nation
Abstract
From its very infancy, America struggled to form and execute a comprehensive policy to deal with the Indians. However, as the nation grew, management of Indian affairs was often confused, haphazard, and inconsistent. Strategies of treaty-making, land purchases, assimilation of the tribes into civilized society, and outright removal of the indians from their traditional lands all competed with each other. The Civil War provided only a brief change of focus away from the Indian problem, and as the country set about its post-war reconstruction, attention again turned to Indian affairs. By the 1870's the nation was divided into two basic philosophies on the best way to resolve the issue. The population on the frontier favored a heavy-handed military approach, while eastern society leaned toward a softer program of preparing the Indians for integration into civilization. As the debate continued and the Indian wars became more intense, George Armstrong Custer led his Regiment in its ill-fated attack against a Sioux encampment. This study examines the impact of that event on the nation, its policy towards the Indians, on the Army itself, as well as the politics during the election year of 1876. Additionally, the study examines the media's role and its influence on the American people. It is an attempt to show the major impact that single event can have on an entire nation
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA265488
Entities
People
- Randal M. Tieszen
Organizations
- United States Army War College