The Rest Is History 450. Custer's Last Stand: Death in the Black Hills (Part 5)
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May 15, 2024 The narrative dives into George Custer's tumultuous life, detailing his struggles with addiction and personal conflicts. Tensions rise as the Northern Pacific Railway threatens Lakota territory, culminating in a face-off with legendary leaders, Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. The podcast explores Custer's complex personality and controversial views on Native Americans, as well as the broader implications of cultural suppression and resilience among Plains Indians. The economic Panic of 1873 sets the stage for inevitable confrontations in the Black Hills.
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Custer's Paradoxical View
- Custer's writings reveal a paradoxical view of Native Americans, acknowledging their desire for freedom while justifying their displacement.
- He believes in their inevitable decline, viewing it as a natural, scientific process rather than a deliberate policy of extermination.
Custer's Southern Sympathies
- Custer's controversial views on Reconstruction, influenced by his racist father, aligned him with Southern sympathizers, even Klan members.
- This stance distanced him politically from his patrons, Sheridan and Grant, highlighting his willingness to prioritize personal beliefs over career advancement.
Darwinian Influence on Custer
- Custer's interest in fossils and Darwinian ideas shaped his perspective on Native American destiny.
- He believed their "savage state" was natural and their decline inevitable, reflecting a broader 19th-century worldview influenced by emerging scientific theories.
