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After the war, Custer’s pursuit of glory led him to a challenging assignment with the Seventh Cavalry to confront Native American resistance in the West. While the Civil War set the stage for his initial achievements, it was in his later encounters with Native Americans that Custer's ambitions would become increasingly dangerous and reckless.
The Lead-Up to Catastrophe
With the US government looking to expand into the Black Hills, tensions escalated dramatically following the signing of the Fort Laramie Treaty in 1868. Chief Sitting Bull, who opposed the treaty, rallied a coalition of warriors to resist American encroachment. His strategy was guided by spiritual beliefs and a careful understanding of the circumstances; he would mobilize thousands to defend their land.