After the Civil War, the federal government was very wary of the southern states that had so recently rebelled. In came an era of Reconstruction, in which the federal government forced the South to give equal opporunities to blacks. Of course this didn't last long, and in came Jim Crow laws almost immediately after the Civil War. The South's economic development staggered.
General Crook was ordered to end the Apache raids and bring peace to the region. His tactics were simple - relentlessly pursue the hostiles wherever they may flee and provoke battle or surrender.
