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Primary sourceNewspaper article1878-1881

United States' Indian Wars (Littell's Living Age)

1878-1881

A contemporary magazine article describing the Sioux conflicts of the late 1870s, referring harshly to Sitting Bull.

A contemporary magazine article referring to Sitting Bull during the Sioux Wars, reflecting period racist attitudes.

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About this source

What it is

This is an article reprinted in Littell's Living Age, volume 138, originally from a publication called The Examiner. It discusses the United States' conflicts with Native American groups, including the Sioux, during the late 1870s, and mentions Sitting Bull directly.

Why it matters

The article shows how contemporary magazines described conflicts between the US Army and Native peoples, using harsh and dismissive language toward Sitting Bull and Indigenous people generally. It is useful for understanding the racist attitudes that shaped public opinion during the Sioux Wars.

Look closer

  • What tone does the writer use when describing Sitting Bull and the broader conflict?
  • How does the article describe violence against Native Americans, and what does that reveal about the writer's values?
  • Why is it important to recognize bias when reading period news coverage of these wars?

This newspaper article is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Sitting Bull (Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake) on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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