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1889: The State of Montana Enters the Union
In 1889, Montana, meaning "mountain," became the forty-first state to join the Union. Almost all of its land was included in the Louisiana Purchase. The discovery of gold in 1858 prompted settlement in the region. In 1876 the territory was the scene of a major battle between Native Americans and the U.S. Army's 7th Calvary, known as the Battle of the Little Bighorn, and to the Native Americans the Battle of the Greasy Grass, and it was later dubbed "Custer's Last Stand." The Indians, who vastly outnumbered the Cavalry, won the battle, killing not only Lieutenant General George Armstrong Custer (1839–1876), but reportedly every of the more than 250 officers and soldiers of the five companies that were with him. Only Custer's horse, Comanche, survived. |