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The Civil War in the
Indian Territory
Divided Loyalties
• Conflicts between North and South
• Federal or state authority
• Industry vs. Agriculture
• Free vs. slave states (Missouri
Compromise)
• Dred Scott
• Fugitive Slave Act (abolitionists)
Election of 1860
• Problems came in the election of 1860
• Republican Candidate- Abraham Lincoln
• Democratic Candidate- Stephen Douglas
• Lincoln had no support in the south- was not even on the
ballot in some states
• This was the last straw
• South Carolina withdrew from the union on December 20,
1860. Others followed
Native American
Involvement
• Confederate officials wanted not only the
Native Americans for soldiers but were also
very aware of the rich resources in Indian
Territory
• In February 1861 leaders approached tribes
about aligning with the Confederacy
• Most wanted to do nothing
Taking Sides
• The Union withdrew their troops from
Indian Territory in April 1861
• These troops had left the tribes to fend for
themselves. They had to either join the
confederacy or fight them on their own.
• Commissioner of Indian affairs for the
confederacy, Albert Pike, approached the
Native Americans in July 1861
Taking Sides
• A few tribes signed treaties with the
Confederacy in July 1861
• In August many others followed suit.
• All of the treaties were similar
• The Confederacy assumed guardianship of the
tribes.
• Became responsible for all of the obligations of
the U.S. treaties
War on Indian Land
• Not all Indians supported
Confederacy
• Creeks were split
• Upper Creek supported Union
• Became the “Loyal Creek”
• Lower Creek supported Confederacy
The Indian Expedition
• Confederacy weakened in the West
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• Pea Ridge
Formed by Union to regain Indian Territory
Began June 1, 1862
Captured Fort Gibson and Tahlequah
Retreated to Kansas
Black Troops
• In May 1861 Fredrick Douglas called for
African Americans to participate in the Civil
War
• The Union War Department authorized the
service of black men in 1862
• The 11th Regiment, United States Colored
Troops saw their first action in 1864
War on Indian Land
• Guerilla Warfare
• (Small group that harasses the enemy)
• Raiders often stole cattle & horses and burned
homes and villages
• Refugees
• Many Native Americans were displaced and had
to find homes among other Native Americans or
in other territories
The War Ends
• On April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Court
House, Robert E. Lee surrendered to
Ulysses S. Grant and ended the Civil
War
• Indian territory was devastated.
• Native Americans had to again find a way
to rebuild their lives
More Treaties with the
Tribes
• Commissioner of Indian affairs said
• By joining the Confederacy, earlier treaties with
the U.S. were no longer valid
• Also made tribes
• Proclaim permanent peace
• Abolish slavery and add the freedmen to the tribe
• Surrender part of their lands to other tribes.
During the War
• Some bands of Plains Indians took
advantage of the lack of military
protection and raided white settlers.
(Comanche)
Medicine Lodge Treaty
• The terms on the treaty stated
• Live on reservations (no roaming)
• Learn to farm
• The U.S. would protect them from
hunters and provide food and clothing
every year
Fort Sill
• Sheridan believed a garrison was needed in the
heart of Comanche country
• Buffalo soldiers (black troops of the 10th
Cavalry) constructed most of the Fort
• Although isolated, the post was a military
showplace
• “A more beautiful locality could hardly be
imagined, wild, romantic, and full of nature”
Lawrie Tatum
• Assigned as Indian Agent at Fort Sill
• Tatum’s job was to distribute goods
• Tatum believed that ample supplies would
keep Indians peacefully on the reservation.
• Fewer annuity goods were received each year
Do NOT Write
• Indians repeatedly told Lawrie Tatum
• “If they behaved well they got but a small
amount of goods and the only way to get a large
amount was to go on the war path a while, kill a
few white people, steal a good many horses and
mules, and then make a treaty and they would get
a large amount of presents and a liberal supply
of goods for that fall”
Westward Expansion
• The Pacific Railway Act
• Began the process of building railway and
telegraph lines across the country
• Homestead Act of 1862
• Turned over vast amounts of public land to
settlers
• This forced more tribes to relocate to Indian
territory.
Relocating Other Tribes
• Although Indian Territory was shrinking, still
more tribes were being moved there
• Today Native Americans from more than 67
tribes call Oklahoma home.
• 39 of these maintain headquarters in
Oklahoma
• In 2000, the Native American population in
Oklahoma was 273,200
Questions
1. What are the factors that led to the Civil War?
2. What was the name of the Indian Agent assigned to
Fort Sill?
3. What regiment of black troops was deployed in
Indian Territory?
4. Who was Albert Pike?
5. Describe the election of 1860. Why was it
significant?