Little Bighorn Battle Altered U.S. Policy Toward Native Americans

Why it matters locally: The Battle of the Little Bighorn and the subsequent shifts in U.S. policy toward Indigenous populations directly impacted tribes with ancestral lands and current reservations within South Dakota, influencing land rights, sovereignty, and federal recognition that continue to shape the state's demographics and governance.

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The Battle of the Little Bighorn, a notable event in U.S. history, took place 150 years ago. Native American forces achieved a victory in the conflict. The battle, however, preceded changes in the U.S. government's policy toward Indigenous populations. Judy Woodruff explored the battle's historical significance within her series, "Crossroads: America at 250." Her report examined how the events at Little Bighorn influenced subsequent government actions regarding Native American communities.