When did the Indian Wars start and end?
American Indian Wars. These conflicts occurred within the United States and Canada from the time of the earliest colonial settlements in the 17th century until the 1920s. The various Indian Wars resulted from a wide variety of sources, including cultural clashes, land disputes, and criminal acts committed on both sides.
What was the first Indian War in the United States?
Indian Wars List and Timeline. It was the first war between Europeans and Native Americans in the American West. March 22, 1622 – Jamestown Massacre – Powhatan Indians kill 347 English settlers throughout the Virginia colony during the first Powhatan War.
Why did the American-Indian Wars start?
Between 1622 and the late 19th century, a series of wars known as the American-Indian Wars took place between Indians and American settlers, mainly over land control. On March 22, 1622, Powhatan Indians attacked and killed colonists in eastern Virginia.
What was the outcome of the American Indian Wars?
American Indian Wars. The climax came in the War of 1812, which resulted in the defeat of major Indian coalitions in the Midwest and the South, and conflict with settlers became much less common. Conflicts were resolved by treaty, often through sale or exchange of territory between the federal government and specific tribes.
How long did the American Indian Wars last?
313 yearsAmerica's real longest war was the conflict against Indigenous Americans, called the American Indian Wars, which most historians characterize as beginning in 1609 and ending in 1924 or 313 years, mainly over land control.
Who won the American Indian war?
the United States of AmericaThe result of the Indian Wars was a total victory by the United States of America. The conflicts lasted 150 years and were almost constant for most of the 19th century.
What caused the Indian wars of 1860 and 1890?
Although one side or group cannot take the blame for the wars, the mistreatment of Native Americans on their land and the expansion of America westward were the main contributing factors.
How long did America fight Indians?
For more than 250 years, as Europeans sought to control newly settled American land, wars raged between Native Americans and the frontiersmen who encroached on their territory, resources and trade.
What was the last free Indian tribe?
His people, the Yahi, had supposedly vanished decades earlier, and because they were the last Natives living freely in the West, Ishi became famous as “the last wild Indian.” Ishi with bows and arrows on visit to Tehama county, California.
How many Native Americans were killed?
12 million Indigenous peopleIn the ensuing email exchange, Thornton indicated that his own rough estimate is that about 12 million Indigenous people died in what is today the coterminous United States between 1492 and 1900.
What was the biggest Native American battle?
The most famous battle of all the Indian Wars is the Battle of the Little Bighorn. It took place in 1876 during the Black Hills War and was the greatest defeat of the United States military in their conflicts with native people.
How many settlers were killed in Indian Wars?
At least 4,340 people were killed, including both the settlers and the Indians, over twice as many as occurred in Texas, the second highest-ranking state. Most of the deaths in Arizona were caused by the Apaches.
What was the root cause of the Indian war?
What was the main cause of the French and Indian War? The French and Indian War began over the specific issue of whether the upper Ohio River valley was a part of the British Empire, and therefore open for trade and settlement by Virginians and Pennsylvanians, or part of the French Empire.
Which Native American tribes were peaceful?
Prior to European settlement of the Americas, Cherokees were the largest Native American tribe in North America. They became known as one of the so-called "Five Civilized Tribes," thanks to their relatively peaceful interactions with early European settlers and their willingness to adapt to Anglo-American customs.
What was the last battle between the Native Americans and the US?
During the ensuing Wounded Knee Massacre, fierce fighting broke out and 150 Indians were slaughtered. The battle was the last major conflict between the U.S. government and the Plains Indians. By the early 20 century, the American-Indian Wars had effectively ended, but at great cost.
What ended the Indian Wars?
1609 – 1924American Indian Wars / Period
What ended the American Indian war?
1609 – 1924American Indian Wars / Period
Did Native Americans ever win a war?
In less than three hours on November 4, 1791, American Indians destroyed the United States Army, inflicting more than 900 casualties on a force of some 1,400 men. Proportionately it was the biggest military disaster the United States ever suffered. It was also the biggest victory American Indians ever won.
Who won the French and Indian War?
The BritishThe British had won the French and Indian War. They took control of the lands that had been claimed by France (see below). France lost its mainland possessions to North America. Britain now claimed all the land from the east coast of North America to the Mississippi River.
Who fought in the American Indian war?
Between 1622 and the late 19th century, a series of wars known as the American-Indian Wars took place between Indians and American settlers, mainly over land control.
What was the name of the war between Native Americans and the English?
Known as the American Indian Wars, the conflicts involved Indigenous people, the English, French, Spanish and U.S. Army and ended with massive Native American population and tribal land losses and the forced relocation of survivors to reservations.
Where did the Plains Indian War take place?
The first Plains Indian War, took place west of the Missouri River between the semi-nomadic Arikara of South Dakota and the U.S, which was joined by Sioux allies. Facing encroachment, the Arikara had attacked members of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, killing about 15 trappers. The U.S. retaliated, and when the tribe retreated, its village was burned and destroyed. The Arikara later returned and rebuilt, but most of its population was decimated by smallpox in 1830.
How many Indians were killed in the Battle of Sand Creek?
soldiers laid siege against a Cheyenne and Arapaho village of approximately 750 along Sand Creek. As the American Indians attempted to escape, the soldiers charged after them, slaughtering 230, most of whom were unarmed women, children and elderly. Soldiers returned the next day to scalp and desecrate their bodies.
What was the name of the battle that the Virginia militia won?
A key conflict of the war was the October 10, 1774, Battle of Point Pleasant, where the militia defeated the Shawnee in present-day West Virginia. The ensuing treaty led to land south of the Ohio River being ceded to the British.
Why did the US and Great Britain go to war?
The United States and Great Britain went to war over trade and maritime sovereignty, with Indigenous nations joining forces with the British. Fought on land and at sea, it ended in a draw with the Treaty Ghent, ratified in 1815, and leaving the British in control of Canada and its maritime rights, while the U.S. earned respect across Europe. The war, however, led to increased western expansion, the death of Tecumseh and further threats to Native Americans.
What war did George Washington fight in?
Illustration showing George Washington in the midst of fighting during the French and Indian War, a conflict between the British and the French, aided by their respective Native American allies, 1754.
What tribes attacked the English in South Carolina?
Rebelling against their former allies, the Yamasee tribe, aligned with the Catawba and others, attacked the English in South Carolina colonies, triggered by treaty violations, encroachments and fur trade battles. Once defeated, many Indians retreated to Florida, later forming the Seminole tribe.
What wars did India fight?
For wars fought by India, see List of wars involving India. The American Indian Wars, also known as the American Frontier Wars, the First Nations Wars in Canada ( French: Guerres des Premières Nations ), and the Indian Wars, were fought by European governments and colonists, and later by the United States and Canadian governments and American ...
How many Indians died in the Indian war?
They have cost the lives of about 19,000 white men, women and children, including those killed in individual combats, and the lives of about 30,000 Indians. The actual number of killed and wounded Indians must be very much higher than the number given ... Fifty percent additional would be a safe estimate.
When did the Comanches invade Texas?
Large numbers of American settlers reached Texas in the 1830s, and a series of armed confrontations broke out until the 1870s, mostly between Texans and Comanches. During the same period, the Comanches and their allies raided hundreds of miles deep into Mexico (see Comanche–Mexico Wars ).
What was the colonial period?
Colonial period (1609–1774) Further information: European colonization of the Americas. Indian massacre of 1622. Siege of Fort Detroit during Pontiac's Rebellion in 1763. The colonization of America by English, French, Spanish, Dutch, and Swedish was resisted by some Indian tribes and assisted by other tribes.
Why did the number of Indians drop in the 19th century?
The number of Indians dropped to below half a million in the 19th century because of infectious diseases, conflict with Europeans, wars between tribes, assimilation, migration to Canada and Mexico, and declining birth rates. The main cause was infectious diseases carried by European explorers and traders. The United States Census Bureau (1894) provided their estimate of deaths due specifically to war during the 102 years between 1789 and 1891, including 8,500 Indians and 5,000 whites killed in "individual affairs":
What was the climax of the War of 1812?
The climax came in the War of 1812, when major Indian coalitions in the Midwest and the South fought against the United States and lost.
Why did Indians fight with the British?
Some Indians sided with the British, as they hoped to reduce American settlement and expansion. In one writer's opinion, the Revolutionary War was "the most extensive and destructive" Indian war in United States history. The abduction of Jemima Boone by Shawnee in 1776.
When Did The American Indian Wars End?
First, I'm sorry for not posting as offend as I usually have. It seems that getting ready for Winter, finishing my book which is a collection of my Old West stories, and fighting a couple of medical problems, I haven't been able to sit and finish a post for you. Frankly, I really feel bad about that since I appreciate that you like my work and don't want to disappoint you.
What were the last events that were in fact connected to the Old West and the American Indian Wars?
Well, the last events that were in fact connected to the Old West and the American Indian Wars where the participants acted no differently than others in the same situations in the 1800s. The Battle of Kelley Creek, 1911. For example, in January of 1911, a small band of Shoshone and Bannock Indians killed four Range Detectives at a ranch ...
Why did the Yaqui people fight in the war?
Their war bled into the United States because a large number of Yaqui were driven north and had crossed into Arizona.
What was the last known massacre?
Their deaths is contributed to the Battle of Kelley Creek, which is also known as the Last Massacre. That even is often considered to be one of the last known massacres carried out between Native American tribes and the United States at the end of the American Indian Wars.
What was the last massacre in the American Indian Wars?
They followed them in an effort to arrest them for stealing cattle. Their deaths is contributed to the Battle of Kelley Creek , which is also known as the Last Massacre. That even is often considered to be one of the last known massacres carried out between Native American tribes and the United States at the end of the American Indian Wars.
When did the Old West end?
If you've been a reader for a while, then you know that I've disagreed with some who have said that the Old West period went from 1865 to 1895. For me, I've always believed that the Old West was still wild and woolly up into the 1920s well after World War One.
Who alerted the troops to the Yaqui crossing the border?
According to reports, about the middle of the afternoon Lieutenant Scott had First Sgt. Samuel H. Alexander alert the troops to a long column of Yaqui crossing the border on a ridge. Within a few minutes, it's said the troops were mounted and left to pursue the Yagui.
What was the Indian War?
From the earliest European visitors to the Westward Expansion of the United States, white settlers often encountered the American Indians. Though many of these meetings were peaceful, the cultures more often clashed, resulting in hundreds of battles and skirmishes, between the Indians and pioneers encroaching upon their lands, as well as conflicts between the tribes and the U.S. Army. Though confrontations with the Indians virtually occurred since the first European explorers and settlers set foot on American soil, the “ Indian War period” is primarily referred to as occurring between 1866 and 1890. These many conflicts are often overshadowed by other periods of U.S. history.
Where did the Old Northwest War take place?
1785-1795 – Old Northwest War – Fighting occurred in Ohio and Indiana. Following two humiliating defeats at the hands of native warriors, the Americans won a decisive victory under “Mad Anthony” Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers.
What war was the Yamasee?
1715-1718 – Yamasee War – In southern Carolina, an Indian confederation led by the Yamasee came close to exterminating a white settlement in their region. French & Indian War. 1754-1763 – French and Indian War – A conflict between France and Britain for possession of North America.
What happened in 1704?
February 29, 1704 – Deerfield Massacre – A force comprised of Abenaki, Kanienkehaka, Wyandot and Pocumtuck Indians, led by a small contingent of French-Canadian militia, sack the town of Deerfield, Massachusetts, killing 56 civilians and taking dozens more as captives.
What happened on May 26, 1637?
May 26, 1637 – Mystic Massacre – During the Pequot War, English colonists, with Mohegan and Narragansett allies, attack a large Pequot village on the Mystic River in Connecticut killing around 500 villagers.
How many British prisoners were killed at Fort William Henry?
August 1757 – Fort William Henry Massacre – Following the fall of Fort William Henry, between 70 and 180 British and colonial prisoners are killed by Indian allies of the French.
Where did the Snake River War take place?
1855 – Snake River War – Fighting occurred at the junction of the Tucannon River and the Snake River in Washington Territory.
When did the Apache Wars end?
These conflicts occurred across the country beginning with the Tiguex War in 1540 within present-day New Mexico and ending with the Renegade period during the Apache Wars in 1924 within the Southwestern United States . According to a dataset of conflicts between Native American communities and colonial powers, the frequency ...
When did the frequency of conflict increase in Mexico?
According to a dataset of conflicts between Native American communities and colonial powers, the frequency of conflict increases dramatically in both Mexico and the United States during the second half of the 19th century.
How long did the Spanish fight with the Indians?
The Spanish and their Mexican heirs fought wars with Indians for centuries. The Spanish settled in New Mexico in 1598 and fought intermittent wars for two hundred wars. Spanish troops repeatedly fought tribal peoples, sometimes winning battles and sometimes losing them.
Which two groups fought with the French and Indians?
The French in Louisiana experienced a sort of rebellion by the Natchez, and then essentially annihilated the Natchez people, in a small genocide. The French in Quebec and the Great Lakes region allied with Indians, mixed with Indians and fought with Indians—some of whom sided with the French and some of whom sided with the English. The Russians in Alaska warred with several tribes and allied with others.
How many skulls were found at the Crow Creek Massacre?
For example: Of the approximately 500 bodies excavated at the site of the pre-historic Crow Creek Massacre (in South Dakota), 90 percent of the skulls show evidence of scalping. The event took place circa 1325 AD between native American groups.
What was the Spanish strategy in the 1500s?
The Spanish sent what can be described as plundering explorations into the US Southeast several times in the 1500s, with disaster for both the Spanish and native peoples. The Spanish in Florida (which did not become American until 1819) fought with English colonists in Georgia, with both sides having Indian allies.
When did the Spanish begin plundering?
The Spanish sent what can be described as plundering explorations into the US Southeast several times in the 1500s, wi
Did the Seminoles sign a treaty with the US?
The Seminoles of Florida never signed a treaty and the US has agreed to leave them alone to build a Hard Rock Casino empire.
Is the federal government trying to catch up with the crisis of missing Native American women?
The federal government is trying to catch up with a crisis of missing Native American women. But no one is addressing the problems that arise when they’re found.
When did France recognize the United States?
France recognizes the United States as an independent nation. 1778 , February 6. American representatives in Paris sign a "Treaty of Amity and. Friendship" and a secret "Treaty of Alliance" with France.
What act shut down Boston Harbor?
British Parliament passes Boston Port Act, shutting down. Boston Harbor, the first of the Intolerable or Coercive Acts. 1774, June 22. British Parliament passes the Quebec Act, the last of the five. Intolerable Acts.
Which Indian confederation came close to exterminating white settlement in their region?
An Indian confederation led by the Yamasee came close to exterminating white settlement in their region.
What states were involved in the Sioux Wars?
Sioux Wars. 1854-90. Wyoming, Minnesota and South Dakota. Moved across the Mississippi into "Indian Country," the Sioux under Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse resisted waves of settlers and prospectors, to keep their hunting grounds.
What was the Ute nation against?
The Ute nation rose episodically against the whites. Mormon settlers were relentlessly overtaking Ute lands and exhausting their resources and wildlife.
What did the Sioux do to keep their hunting grounds?
Moved across the Mississippi into "Indian Country," the Sioux under Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse resisted waves of settlers and prospectors, to keep their hunting grounds.
How many natives were killed in the Bermuda colony?
The death of a colonist eventually led to the immolation of 600-700 natives. The remainder were sold into slavery in Bermuda.
Who turned back the troops at the Battle of Little Bighorn?
Lakota and Cheyenne under Crazy Horse turned back soldiers commanded by General George Crook, thereby cutting off reinforcements that might have aided Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
Who surrendered to the Apaches?
Rejecting reservation life, Apaches under Geronimo, Cochise and others staged hundreds of attacks on outposts. Geronimo finally surrendered in 1886; others fought on until 1900.
Colonial Period Indian Wars
King Philip’s War
- King Philip’s War(1675-1676), also known as Metacom’s War, began after bands of Indians led by Wampanoag Chief Metacom (later called King Philip) grew frustrated with their dependence on the Puritans and attacked colonies and militia strongholds throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The attacks ignited a series of battles for power along the Connecticut River Valley betw…
Queen Anne's War
- Queen Anne’s War(1702-1713) occurred between French and English colonists and their respective Indian allies on several fronts including Spanish Florida, New England, Newfoundland and Acadia. The war ended with the Treaty of Utrecht, but the Indians were not included in peace negotiations and lost much of their land. During the Tuscarora War (1711-1715), Tuscarora India…
Early American Indian Wars
- Indians had to choose sides or try to stay neutral when the American Revolution broke out. Many tribes such as the Iroquois, Shawnee, Cherokee and Creek fought with British loyalists. Others, including the Potawatomi and the Delaware, sided with American patriots. But no matter which side they fought on, Native Americans were negatively impacted. They were left out of peace tal…
Nineteenth-Century Wars
- At the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811, Shawnee Chief Tecumseh formed a coalition to slow the flow of settlers into Illinois and Indiana. Territorial Governor William Henry Harrisonled a force of soldiers and militia to destroy the Shawnee’s village but agreed to a temporary cease-fire. Tecumseh’s brother, “The Prophet,” ignored the cease-fire and attacked. Harrison prevailed, ho…
Seminole Wars
- In the First Seminole War (1816-1818), the Seminoles, assisted by runaway slaves, defended Spanish Florida against the U.S. Army. In the Second Seminole War (1835-1842), the Indians fought to retain their land in the Florida Everglades but were almost wiped out. The Third Seminole War (1855-1858) was the Seminole’s last stand. After being outgunned and outnumbe…
Sand Creek Massacre
- The Sand Creek Massacre(1864) occurred after about 750 peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho led by Chief Black Kettle were forced to abandon their winter campsite near Fort Lyon in southeastern Colorado. When they set up camp at Sand Creek, volunteer Colorado soldiers attacked, scattering them while slaughtering 148 men, women and children. Red Cloud’s War (1866) bega…
Battle of The Little Bighorn
- At the Battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876, General George Armstrong Custerled 600 men into the Little Bighorn Valley, where they were overwhelmed by approximately 3,000 Sioux and Cheyenne warriors led by Crazy Horse. Custer and his men were all killed in the battle, known as Custer’s Last Stand. Despite the decisive Indian victory, the U.S. government forced t…
Wounded Knee
- In the late nineteenth century, Indian “Ghost Dancers” believed a specific dance ritual would reunite them with the dead and bring peace and prosperity. On December 29, 1890, the U.S. Army surrounded a group of Ghost Dancers at Wounded KneeCreek near the Pine Ridge reservation of South Dakota. During the ensuing Wounded Knee Massacre, fierce fighting brok…
17th Century
18th Century
- Queen Anne's War: 1702-1713 Known as the War of Spanish Succession in Europe, the conflict also took hold in North America, with English colonists fighting the French, both sides with Indian allies, for territory in New England, the colony of South Carolina and Spanish Florida. One particularly bloody massacre was the Raid of Deerfieldon February 29, 1704, when the British-ru…
American Revolution Era
- Chickamauga Cherokee Wars: 1776-1794 In a struggle to keep their territory, the Cherokee, led by Chief Dragging Canoe, fought against American settlers throughout the Revolutionary War, across Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia. Post-1786, the Cherokee joined the Chief Tecumseh-organized Western Confederacy against Anglo settlers. The colonial …
Battle of Tippencanoe, War of 1812
- Battle of Tippecanoe: November 7, 1811 With Maj. Gen. William Henry Harrison at the helm, U.S. forces fought the Shawnee Indians who attacked an American camp along the Tippecanoe River in central Indiana. The Shawnee, led by Laulewasikau (called “The Prophet”), the brother of Tecumseh, were defeated, although casualties were nearly equal. Harrison...
Sand Creek Massacre, Battle of Little Bighorn
- Sand Creek Massacre: November 29, 1864 In the midst of the Civil War and a long-waging battle for control of eastern Colorado's Great Plains, a unit of some 675 volunteer U.S. soldiers laid siegeagainst a Cheyenne and Arapaho village of approximately 750 along Sand Creek. As the American Indians attempted to escape, the soldiers charged after them, slaughtering 230, most …
Sources
- Indian Wars Campaigns, U.S. Army Center of Military History Battlefields of the Pequot War, American BattleField Protection Project Beaver Wars, Ohio History Connection America’s Most Devastating Conflict: King Philip’s War, Connecticuthistory.org 1680—the Pueblo Revolt, Library of Congress French and Indian War/Seven Years’ War, 1754–63, U.S. Office of the Historian Po…
Overview
The American Indian Wars, also known as the American Frontier Wars, and the Indian Wars, were fought by European governments and colonists in North America, and later by the United States and Canadian governments and American and Canadian settlers, against various American Indian and First Nation tribes. These conflicts occurred in North America from the time of the earliest colonial settlements in the 17th century until the early 20th century. The various w…
Colonial periods (1609–1774)
The colonization of North America by English, Spanish, French, Dutch, and Swedish was resisted by some Indian tribes and assisted by other tribes. Wars and other armed conflicts in the 17th and 18th centuries included:
• Beaver Wars (1609–1701) between the Iroquois and the French, who allied with the Algonquians
• Anglo-Powhatan Wars (1610–14, 1622–32, 1644–46), including the 1622 Jamestown Massacre, b…
East of the Mississippi (1775–1842)
British merchants and government agents began supplying weapons to Indians living in the United States following the Revolution (1783–1812) in the hope that, if a war broke out, they would fight on the British side. The British further planned to set up an Indian nation in the Ohio-Wisconsin area to block further American expansion. The US protested and declared war in 1812. Most Indian tribes supported the British, especially those allied with Tecumseh, but they were ultimatel…
West of the Mississippi (1811–1924)
The series of conflicts in the western United States between Indians, American settlers, and the United States Army are generally known as the Indian Wars. Many of these conflicts occurred during and after the Civil War until the closing of the frontier in about 1890. However, regions of the West that were settled before the Civil War saw significant conflicts prior to 1860, such as Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Oregon, California, and Washington state.
Effects on Indian populations
The 2010 United States Census found 2,932,248 Americans who identified themselves as being American Indian or Alaskan Native, about 0.9% of the US population. The Canada 2011 Census found 1,836,035 Canadians who identified themselves as being First Nations (or Inuit or Métis), about 4.3% of the Canadian population. No consensus exists on how many people lived in the Americas before the arrival of Europeans, but extensive research continues to be conducted. Co…
Historiography
According to historian David Rich Lewis, American popular histories, film, and fiction have given enormous emphasis to the Indian wars. New ethno-historical approaches became popular in the 1970s which mixed anthropology with historical research in hopes of gaining a deeper understanding of the Indian perspective. During the 1980s, human rights abuses by the US government were increasingly studied by historians exploring the impact of the wars on Indian c…
See also
• Captives in American Indian Wars
• Cultural assimilation of American Indians
• French and Indian Wars
• History of the United States
Further reading
• Barnes, Jeff. Forts of the Northern Plains: Guide to Historic Military Posts of the Plains Indian Wars. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books, 2008. ISBN 0-8117-3496-X.
• Glassley, Ray Hoard. Indian Wars of the Pacific Northwest, Binfords & Mort, Portland, Oregon 1972 ISBN 0-8323-0014-4