Battle of Little Bighorn

The topic for this essay is the Battle of Little Bighorn. I am providing you with two documents which are based on eyewitness accounts of the battle. Each source though, is a different perspective on the battle, one being from the Native American’s viewpoint and the other being that of the U.S. Cavalry (and government).

The goal of this essay (which is also your thesis) is to compare and contrast these two viewpoints. Keep in mind, that in any situation, two people who observe the exact same event most likely will remember it differently. It is a fascinating psychological phenomenon and based on the fact that we all have biases and prejudices which influence how we see the world. And while most of this is at a subconscious level, also consider that there are times when people are motivated, or influenced, to see and remember things differently, either for self-promotion or to protect themselves from scrutiny. (Our memories are also shaped by our emotional state at the time -fear, anger, determination, confidence – which can produce a variety of hormones such as adrenaline)

For this essay then, begin by creating a list of commonalities and differences from the source material. Think about the reasons the viewpoints may be the same, but especially focus on the reasons they are different.

When making your analysis consider the following questions:

What was each side trying to achieve by telling their story?
What was the motivation/goal of each side? (even preceding the battle)
Would either side have a reason to lie or misrepresent the truth?
Your analysis should include a description of the specific event, each viewpoint of that event and then, the most important part, your analysis and rationale for the viewpoints either being the same or different.

Helpful structural hints:

First and foremost, develop a well-written and clear thesis statement for the introductory paragraph. For this, a good rule of thumb is to assume that the reader does not know the assignment (do not write to the instructor), so explain it in a way that they will understand what you are trying to achieve with this essay.
In the opening paragraph, provide a brief historical context for the reader and also go ahead and introduce the sources and the people whom you will be referencing throughout the essay. (Note: it’s much easier to write the introductory paragraph after you have written the main body of the essay)
When structuring your essay, it may be helpful to organize the information so that each paragraph focuses on an event within the context of the battle. Within that paragraph you can explain both perspectives and include your analysis as to the reasons they are different (or the same).
The last paragraph, the conclusion, should be a summary of the main ideas/conclusions of your analysis, connecting back to the thesis statement.

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