6.1 Major conflicts and wars with European settlers and the U.S. government

Native American resistance to European settlers and the U.S. government spanned centuries. Conflicts like King Philip's War and the French and Indian War marked early clashes, while later wars like Tecumseh's and the Seminole Wars showcased ongoing struggles.

The 19th century saw forced relocations, including the Trail of Tears. Western expansion led to the Indian Wars, culminating in events like the Battle of Little Bighorn and the Wounded Knee Massacre, marking the end of armed Native American resistance.

Colonial and Early American Conflicts

Early Colonial Conflicts

Top images from around the web for Early Colonial Conflicts

• 

  Colonial-Project-Bl-A - Delaware View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  King Philip's War - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  French and Indian Wars - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Colonial-Project-Bl-A - Delaware View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  King Philip's War - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Early Colonial Conflicts

• 

  Colonial-Project-Bl-A - Delaware View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  King Philip's War - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  French and Indian Wars - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Colonial-Project-Bl-A - Delaware View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  King Philip's War - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• King Philip's War erupted in New England from 1675 to 1678 pitted Native American tribes against English colonists and their Native allies
• Metacomet (King Philip) led Wampanoag and other tribes against expanding colonial settlements
• Resulted in significant casualties on both sides and disrupted colonial expansion in the region
• French and Indian War lasted from 1754 to 1763 involved British colonists and Native American allies against French colonists and their Native American allies
• Conflict centered on control of North American territories, particularly the Ohio River Valley
• Ended with British victory, leading to significant changes in colonial power dynamics

Late Colonial and Revolutionary Era Conflicts

• Pontiac's Rebellion occurred from 1763 to 1766 following the French and Indian War
• Ottawa leader Pontiac organized a multi-tribal alliance to resist British expansion into former French territories
• Rebellion led to significant British losses and forced a reconsideration of colonial policies toward Native Americans
• American Revolution from 1775 to 1783 impacted Native American tribes through shifting alliances and territorial disputes
• Some tribes allied with the British, hoping to limit colonial expansion, while others supported the colonists
• Outcome of the war led to increased pressure on Native American lands as the new United States sought to expand westward

19th Century Conflicts and Removal

Early 19th Century Wars

• Tecumseh's War from 1811 to 1813 involved Shawnee leader Tecumseh's efforts to form a pan-Indian alliance against U.S. expansion
• Conflict culminated in the Battle of Tippecanoe, where U.S. forces defeated Tecumseh's confederacy
• Seminole Wars consisted of three distinct conflicts in Florida between 1816 and 1858
• First Seminole War (1816-1819) resulted from Seminole raids into U.S. territory and ended with the acquisition of Florida from Spain
• Second Seminole War (1835-1842) centered on Seminole resistance to forced relocation, featuring guerrilla tactics and significant U.S. casualties
• Third Seminole War (1855-1858) ended with most Seminoles being removed from Florida or retreating into the Everglades
• Black Hawk War in 1832 erupted when Sauk leader Black Hawk led a group back across the Mississippi River to reclaim their homeland
• Resulted in the defeat of Black Hawk's band and further opened the region for white settlement

Forced Relocation and Its Consequences

• Indian Removal Act of 1830 authorized the U.S. government to negotiate treaties to exchange Native American tribal lands in the eastern states for lands west of the Mississippi River
• Act primarily targeted the "Five Civilized Tribes" (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee-Creek, and Seminole)
• Led to forced relocations of numerous Native American tribes from their ancestral lands
• Trail of Tears refers to a series of forced relocations of Native American tribes in the southeastern United States to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma)
• Cherokee Nation's forced march in 1838-1839 resulted in thousands of deaths due to exposure, disease, and starvation
• Other tribes, including the Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Muscogee-Creek, also experienced similar forced relocations with high mortality rates

Western Expansion and the Indian Wars

Major Conflicts of the Late 19th Century

• Indian Wars encompassed a series of conflicts between the U.S. government and various Native American tribes from the 1850s to the 1890s
• Included conflicts such as the Sioux Wars, Apache Wars, and Nez Perce War
• Resulted from increasing westward expansion, broken treaties, and cultural clashes between settlers and Native Americans
• Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876 saw the defeat of U.S. Army forces led by Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer by a coalition of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes
• Also known as "Custer's Last Stand," the battle represented a significant victory for Native American forces
• Led to increased military efforts to subdue Native American resistance in the Great Plains

The End of Armed Resistance

• Wounded Knee Massacre occurred on December 29, 1890, near Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota
• U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment surrounded a camp of Lakota Sioux, attempting to disarm them
• Conflict escalated, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 150-300 Lakota men, women, and children
• Considered the last major armed conflict between the U.S. government and Native American tribes
• Symbolized the end of organized Native American military resistance to U.S. expansion and policies
• Led to significant changes in U.S. Indian policy and marked a turning point in Native American history