Native Americans and the Revolutionary War
The colonies' policies continued British policy
Colonial relations with Indians
emphasis on obtaining Indian lands
wars to quell "conspiracies"
treaties and purchases
Royal Charters
taxation, "deed game", etc.
Colonial - British decisions
Would they seek Indian allies?
Washington and Continental Congress originally opposed it
as did British Indian superintendents
policies varied greatly among the colonies and the diverse Indian groups
Role of Native Americans in the war
mainly a pro-British response
Cherokees went to war against the U.S. in 1776
Carolinas offered 50 pounds for Cherokee scalps
Stockbridge tribe joined Massachusetts minutemen
Iroquois allegiances split, but U.S. attacked and they were then in the British camp
Native American dilemma...
British pledged to stop land encroachment
Americans appeared to have the upper hand
The Bad Start of U.S. Indian Policy
"The Indian tribes by joining the British in the Revolution had forfeited their rights to possession of lands within the United States; the new country would be justified in compelling the Indians to retire to Canada or to the unknown areas beyond the Mississippi river." -- U.S. Congress 1783-4
U.S. couldn't back it up
no money
small army
Little cooperation among states
Indians supported by British agents
Contradictory policy and the electorate
policy had to please expansionist electorate
had to pacify Indians, who distrusted the US
U.S. Expansion
a demographic conquest
Native American mortality
U.S. population growth
Rapid change, 1775-1850
Old Northwest
1805-1819
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Henry Knox (Sec. of War) and George Washington's objectives
Knox in public: The Indians being the prior occupants, possess the right of soil. It cannot be taken from them unless by their free consent, or by the right of conquest in case of a just war. To dispossess them on any other principle, would be a gross violation of the fundamental laws of nature, and of that distributive justice which is the glory of a nation"
Washington and Knox's other aim...
Knox in private: wanted to find a policy that "would gradually obtain Indian land, would be as cheap as possible, would avoid war, would redound to the honor of the United states, and would benefit the Indians as well as the advancing frontiersmen"
Thomas Jefferson and the Indigenous People of North America
comments to Wilson or Lovata
Created 8/21/98, modified by SMW 8/21/98