What was so unfortunate about the Indians aligning and fighting with a side during the Revolutionary War was that, whether they were on the winning side or not, they were the ones who truly lost the most. Though, despite many tribes’ best efforts, maintaining neutrality was also seemingly a lost cause as they soon began to break off into American-aligned and Britain-aligned factions. Unfortunately, many patriots were quick to disregard any Indian alliances and viewed the victory of Revolutionary War as approval to encroach on Indian territories. With Americans being the victors, the Indians were driven from the Ohio Valley and away from their principal hunting grounds (Foner, 2014, p. 229). One group of Indians even described American Independence
The “Utmost Good Faith” clause from the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 however, stated, “The utmost good faith shall always be observed toward the Indians; their land and property shall not be taken from them without their consent; and in their property, rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded or disturbed.” (Document 9). However, a letter from three Seneca Indian leaders to George Washington, President of the United States, argued, “When your army entered the country of Six (Iroquois) Nations, we called you the town destroyer; to this day, when your name is heard, our women look behind them and turn pale, and our children cling to the necks of their mothers…” (Document 10). This, in fact, proves the American Revolution was not revolutionary because the Indians were promised the “Utmost Good Faith” and that their land and property would never be invaded or disturbed, but their towns were left completely devastated and halted society from changing into a better
“And I hereby further declare all indented servants, Negroes, or others (appertaining to Rebels) free, that are able and willing to bear arms, the joining of His Majesty's Troops, as soon as may be, for the more speedily reducing the Colony to a proper sense of their duty, to this Majesty's crown and dignity.”
6. The Indians had been ignored in the Declaration of Independence, had not been considered equal, certainly not in choosing who would govern the American territories in which they lived, nor in being able to pursue happiness as they had before the Europeans arrived. But with the British no longer in charge, the Americans were free to push the Indians off their land and kill them if they resisted. Before the Revolution, the Indians had worked out co existence with the colonies but with the colonial population growing fast after the war, the pressure to move westward for new land was causing conflict with the Indians.
The morale boost amongst colonists didn’t last long. In 1763 a powerful Ottawa chief allied with several other Indian tribes waged war on the British capturing every fort west of Detroit forcing colonists east...
In the 30 years after the Civil War, although government policy towards Native Americans intended to shift from forced separation to integration into American society, attempts to "Americanize" Indians only hastened the death of their culture and presence in the America. The intent in the policy, after the end of aggression, was to integrate Native Americans into American society. Many attempts at this were made, ranging from offering citizenship to granting lands to Indians. All of these attempts were in vain, however, because the result of this policies is much the same as would be the result of continued agression.
One of the critical tasks that faced the new nation of the United States was establishing a healthy relationship with the Native Americans (Indians). “The most serious obstacle to peaceful relations between the United States and the Indians was the steady encroachment of white settlers on the Indian lands. The Continental Congress, following [George] Washington’s suggestion, issued a proclamation prohibiting unauthorized settlement or purchase of Indian land.” (Prucha, 3) Many of the Indian tribes had entered into treaties with the French and British and still posed a military threat to the new nation.
The colonialism structure hit hardest on the indigenous peoples of America. Existing power, social and cultural structures were severely disrupted and in most areas there has been a rapid demographic collapse. The population was by colonization also enriched with new ingredients and by European colonists and slaves imported from Africa. The majority population - Indians and blacks, however remained poor and without rights. Civil rights belonged only descendants of Spanish colonists - Creoles. One of the main reasons for the initial Creole resistances were unsatisfied ambitions, which was still subordinated to the people installed directly from Madrid.
The art of the Americas was changed dramatically with the arrival of the Spanish and many aspects of European art and influence can be seen in the art of colonial America. However, there are still many significant examples of indigenous influence in colonial art. Whether one looks at the early works that were seen when the Spanish first arrived or the work that came in the late 1700s, the influence of the indigenous natives had a long ranging influence on various aspects of the art including materials, subjects, and details within the paintings, sculptures and architecture.
American Indians once lived a prosperous and full life, relying on the bounty of land and nature. Colonization by white settlers disrupted this peaceful existence, uprooting tribes from their land and forcing them to assimilate to new cultural and religion views. Years of mistreatment and abuse led to the organization of the American Indian Movement to fight for their rights and liberty. Through the AIM, Indians attempted to gain recognition and spread knowledge of their culture and heritage to American citizens in order to attain a place in society. Leaders of the AIM created a manifesto of change in 1972 which listed goals they wanted to meet under three broad categories: economic, social and political. While the AIM was organized in response to the lack of basic rights and oppressive nature of the US government, their goals have yet to be met with any long term success.
The Effects of Colonization on the Native Americans Native Americans had inherited the land now called America and eventually their lives were destroyed due to European colonization. When the Europeans arrived and settled, they changed the Native American way of life for the worse. These changes were caused by a number of factors including disease, loss of land, attempts to export religion, and laws, which violated Native American culture. Native Americans never came in contact with diseases that developed in the Old World because they were separated from Asia, Africa, and Europe when ocean levels rose following the end of the last Ice Age. Diseases like smallpox, measles, pneumonia, influenza, and malaria were unknown to the Native Americans until the Europeans brought these diseases over time to them.
...ent was a fight between three nations, and until the late 18th century it was not at all certain which one would win. The Indians, especially the Five nations of the Iroquois, were exceptionally good at playing the French and the English against each other in order to maximize their own benefits. The French and Indian War was a guerrilla war of small skirmishes and surprise attacks. The terrain was unfamiliar to both the French and the English; the involvement of the Indian nations as allies in battle made an enormous difference. In fact, some historians have hypothesized that the turning point in the war came when many of the Indian nations changed their war policies and turned their backs on the French. Faced with the greater resources of the British and lacking the advantage of their Indian allies, the French were left with little hope, and soon lost the continent.
American Indian political activism played a tremendous role throughout history, which has laid the foundation for how Indians are being treated with more respect in today’s society. In 1961, about the same time as the meeting in Chicago, the National Indian Youth Council (NIYC) was founded (Hudson). The goal of the NIYC was to protest against civil disobedience and to bring awareness to Indian heritage (Document of Indian Militancy, pg. 527). To promote the NIYC, young Indians would speak at colleges, important national organization meetings and hearings of government agencies (Document of Indian Militancy, pg. 527). This group of activists served as a new generation that was proud of their heritage and not willing to accept being sucked into a white society (Document of Indian Militancy, pg. 527). Clyde Warrior played an important role as a leader of in the NIYC (Document of Indian Militancy pg. 257). Warrior encouraged Indians to “take pride in their Indian heritage, and to hold on to traditional values in modern times” (Document of Indian Militancy pg. 257). Warrior later became the president of the NIYC and continually advocated through speeches and writings (Document of Indian Militancy pg. 527).
The war the American Revolution caused many British settlers to push westward. These settlers began to compete with the Cherokees for land. The Cherokee were glad when the Proclamation of 1763 was put into effect. This prevented settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. Most of the settlers became enemies. The settlers attacked the Cherokees, destroying many towns and killing many people. This attack caused the Cherokees to end their participation in the American Revolution. The American colonist continued to take over the Cherokee land.
Not many know about Dragging Canoe and the battle he fought during the American Revolutionary War. The Native American’s role in the Revolutionary War was very important, but not well known. As a result, the Revolutionary War can come across as one-sided. Dragging Canoe fought for the Native American’s existence in the colonies. First, he was strongly opposed to Henderson’s Purchase or also called the Transylvania Purchase. Secondly, Dragging Canoe’s raid at “Battle of the Bluffs” became an issue for the colonists. And lastly, there was negotiating done between the British and Colonists would somehow effect Dragging Canoe, his warriors, and the future for the Native Americans.
The American Revolution (1775-1783) was a revolution was based on British implemented high taxes, which lead to the American revolting against the British authority. The reason why the American Colonialist revolted because they wanted representation in Parliament, which is the reason why many primary documents during this time emphasize “no taxation without representation”. With the events such as Stamp Act, the Boston Tea Party and the first shots fired upon of the revolutionary war at the battle of Lexington and Concord led the American Colonialist to sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. At the end of the revolution in 1783, Britain had lost significant land to the newly formed United States of America. However, during the American Revolution there was a different narrative that was unaccounted for; Colin Callaway’s book The American Revolution in Indian Country: Crisis and Diversity in Native American Communities explores the unaccounted stories of indigenous people and nations during the American Revolution.