Red Cloud's War

• Red Cloud's War and the subsequent 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty are discussed
• Red Cloud's War is not to be confused with the 1851 Fort Laramie Treaty
• Red Cloud's War basics:
• Red Cloud's War basics

  • Involved: Red Cloud, Chief of the Lakota Sioux, versus the US Army including Captain Fetterman
  • Red Cloud fought to defend his land from white settlement and the US Army building forts on Sioux land without permission
  • Captain Fetterman and his soldiers were killed in an ambush known as Fetterman's Trap
• Red Cloud's War was the worst US defeat to Indians yet
• Red Cloud's War took place on Sioux land related to the Bozeman Trail
• Red Cloud's War occurred

  1866-1868
• Red Cloud's War happened between 1866 and 1868, with Fetterman's Trap occurring on December 21, 1866
• Reason for Red Cloud's War

  The Sioux were angered by white settlers trespassing on Sioux land using the Bozeman Trail
• After Fetterman's defeat, the US government agreed to discuss peace terms leading to the Second Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868
• Second Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 details:
• Second Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868


  1. Indians agreed to have Red Cloud lead his people back to the Sioux reservation

  2. Indians agreed to never leave the reservation again

  3. Indians agreed not to attack US Army or settlers

  4. US government agreed to close the Bozeman Trail, prevent unauthorized white settlement of Sioux land, and leave the Black Hills to the Sioux in perpetuity
• The Black Hills were the most important sacred site to the Sioux
• Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse refused to sign the Second Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868
• US government is not agreeing to as much as the Indians are agreeing


  Consequences in the American West exam might include questions about the consequences of a particular event
• Red Cloud led his people back to the Sioux reservation, but some refused to go
• Some Sioux agreed to never leave the reservation again but followed the buffalo to hunt
• Buffalo were not going to respect the borders of a reservation
• Sioux agreed not to attack the US army or settlers, but conflicts still happened
• Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse's refusal to sign the treaty led to war and the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876
• US government closed the Bozeman Trail, but other routes existed
• A railroad was built in the Black Hills, which was disrespectful
• US government agreed to leave the Black Hills, but a railroad was built and gold prospectors followed
• US government tore up agreements and offered to buy the land from the Sioux, but they were not interested in money for their sacred site
• Prospectors followed in 1874, requiring army protection, including George Armstrong Custer
• Red Cloud struck back against the US army and government for going back on earlier agreements regarding migrant trails and forts on his land
• War ended with the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty, but not all Lakota agreed to the settlement
• Scene was set for further conflict