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Why did some village tribes support the United States during the Plains Wars?
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Plains Wars
View of the army camp at Hidden Wood Creek during Lieut. Col. George Armstrong Custer's Black Hills expedition, 1874; photograph by W.H. Illingworth.
During the Plains Wars, several village tribesāincluding the Sahnish, Hidatsa, Mandan, and Pawneeāchose to support the United States, often by providing scouts for the U.S. military.12
This strategic alignment was driven by several key factors:
- Traditional Rivalries: Many village tribes viewed the nomadic Plains tribes as interlopers who had arrived on the Plains only a few generations earlier. These groups often had long-standing histories as enemies, and alliance with the U.S. allowed village men to gain battle honors against these traditional foes without violating treaty prohibitions against intertribal warfare.1
- Political Pragmatism: Many village leaders recognized the growing power of the United States and concluded that cooperation was the most effective strategy for retaining possession of their tribal lands and ensuring their long-term survival.1
- Self-Preservation: By aligning with the U.S. government, these tribes acted in their own best interests, which resulted in them suffering significantly fewer casualties during the conflict compared to the nomadic tribes.1