Why the U.S. Signed the Fort Laramie Treaty

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]In 1868, the United States signed the Fort Laramie Treaty with the Lakota.

[00:00:07]The agreement came after years of fighting during Red Cloud's War.

[00:00:12]During that time, Lakota and Cheyenne warriors attacked soldiers and travelers along the Bozeman Trail in present-day Wyoming and Montana.

[00:00:23]And it was during this time that the United States Army suffered a major defeat when a detachment led by Captain Fetterman was utterly destroyed near Fort Phil Kearny in December 1866.

[00:00:38]Eventually, the government agreed to abandon several forts and recognize Lakota control over a huge territory including the Black Hills. For a time, Red Cloud had forced the US to back down.