USA Montana - The History : USA  

USA Montana - The History - Travel guide

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USA Montana - The History

The History

Native Americans inhabited Montana when Europeans first explored it include the Sioux, Cheyenne, Blackfoot, Shoshone, Arapaho, Kootenai, and the Flathead. The Battle of the Little Bighorn, probably the most famous battle of all of North America's "Indian wars," was fought in southeastern Montana in 1876. There Sioux and Cheyenne warriors led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull massacred General George A. Custer and his entire command of over 200 men. Tragically, the battle effectively marked the end of the Plains Indian wars (1867/1877). In 1867, the Nez Percé, led by Chief Joseph, again defeated the U.S. Army at Big Hole. But the Nez Percé were later captured by pursuing U.S. troops, ending their flight to freedom in Canada. Today, 11 tribes on 7 reservations comprising roughly 7% of total population. (See Indian reservations map)

The 1st European were explored François and Louis-Joseph Verendrye (French) in the early 1740s. The Lewis & Clark expedition crossed Montana in 1805 on their historic trek to the Pacific Ocean. FranJois Antoine Laroque and his North West Company of Canada explored the Yellowstone River that same year. The first trading post in Montana was established at the mouth of the Bighorn in 1807 by a trading expedition that Manuel Lisa led up the Missouri from St. Louis.

Much of the region was acquired by the U.S. from France as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The Oregon Treaty signed with Great Britain on June 15, 1846 gave the United States sole claim to Oregon country south of the 49th parallel, which included the present states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and northwestern Montana.

The Montana Territory (re-sections of Oregon, Washington, Nebraska, Dakota, and Idaho) became the 41st State to unite under America on November 8, 1889.