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Colonists arrive at Jamestown (https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/jamestown)
First arrival of English settlers to the Americas. This causes
immediate tensions between the Natives and the Settlers, as the colonists are seen with suspicion as they set up the Jamestown fort. -
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Indian Massacre of 1622 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_massacre_of_1622)
Who: Powhattan Indians and English Settlers
Where: Jamestown
After tense relations between the settlers and natives, Powhattan Indians walked into the Jamestown settlement unarmed and with provisions to trade with the settlers. Once inside, Powhattans grabbed any weapons in sight and slaughtered indiscriminately. Similar massacres happened at other nearby settlements at the same time as well. -
Pequot War (1636-1638)(https://www.legendsofamerica.com/pequot-war/)
Who: Pequot tribe and an alliance of New English colonists and Natives from different tribes.
Where: New England
After tensions rose between the Pequot tribe and various settlers and tribes fighting for control over fur and Wampum trade, tensions broke into an armed conflict after the killing of a trader named John Oldham by the Pequots. After the Mystic massacre, in which a fortified Pequot village was destroyed and were survivors killed, the Pequot were defeated and some were sold into slavery -
Peach Tree Attack (https://anothertownonthehudson.com/2016/03/02/the-peach-tree-war/)
Who: Alliance of Susquehannock Indians + other tribes vs several Dutch settlements.
This offensive attack was carried out by Susquehannock Natives on the Hudson River targeting numerous Dutch settlements, wrecking havoc and leading to a victory for the Natives. The reason for this attack was because New Sweden, a close trading part of the Susuquehannock Natives, wanted a reconquest of these dutch settlements for more land and power, so the Susquehannock Natives aided this cause. -
Esopus War (1659-1663) (https://minerdescent.com/2012/01/19/first-esopus-war/)
Who: Esopus tribe of Lenape natives vs New Netherlander colonists
Where: Ulster County, New York
After 2 failures, Dutch settlers established a fort but with tensions with the Esopus Natives. After settlers opened fire on unarmed Esopus natives, Esopus retaliated and besieged the settlement, ending with natives trading land for food. The second war began soon, starting much like the Jamestown massacre in terms of infiltration, and ended after Dutch recruited other tribes to drive out the Esopus. -
King Phillip's War (1675-1678)(https://www.britannica.com/event/King-Philips-War)
Who: Wampanoags and other tribes vs New English colonists
Where: New England
One of the deadliest wars in Colonial history, began with tensions between the Wampanoags and the English after repeat colonist violations, attempts to take Indian guns, and the hanging of 3 Wampanoags. Numerous raiding parties began by Wampanoags and a few Narragansettes. The colonial militia then retaliated, ending with an almost complete destruction of the 2 tribes and a ruined Plymouth and Rhode Island economy. -
Tuscarora/Yamasee Wars (https://www.carolana.com/Carolina/Noteworthy_Events/tuscarorawar.html)
Who: Tuscarora vs Yamasee+Colonists, Yamasee vs Colonists
Where:The Carolinas
Two separate wars who impact the Carolinas, the Tuscarora war(1711-1715) saw the Tuscarora tribe fighting the Yamasee and European settlers, with the war ending with devastation to the Tuscarora. Very shortly after the war, the Yamasee banded with other tribes and fought the Europeans after high tensions over debt and raids. This second war(1715-1717) ended with Yamasee becoming broken and Europeans being uncontested. -
Dummer's War (1722-1725)(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dummer%27s_War)
Who: Wabankai Confederacy and France vs New England
Where: Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont
With disputes over the ownership of certain lands between the borders of Canada and New England, an alliance of multiple Native tribes came together with France to fight the English over who owned the land. The war ended with peace talks and a cessation of hostilities, with stronger English controller, lower population of Indians around disputed areas, and lower French controller -
Fort William Henry Massacre(https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/2016/01/11/massacre-of-misunderstanding-fort-william-henry-1757/)
Who: French and Indian troops vs British Troops
Where: New York
During the siege of Fort William Henry by French and Indian troops, the British, who were poorly provisioned, had decided to surrender the fort after several days, with promises that the French would protect the retreating British from the hostile Natives. What followed was a massacre conducted by the Natives, who killed and scalped many soldiers, took women and children and others as captives, and slaughtered the sick and wounded. -
Pontiac's Rebellion (1763-1766)(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac%27s_War)
Who: A loose confederacy of Indian tribes vs British Troops
Where: Great Lakes Region
After British General Jeffery Amherst introduced policies that offended the Natives, the confederacy of Natives retaliated and attacked different forts and settlements, destroying 8 forts, killing, and capturing hundreds of colonists. The conflict came ended with peaceful negotiations, with the Natives not driving out the British but prompting the British to change the policies that offended the natives. -
Conestoga Massacre(https://unchartedlancaster.com/2019/12/27/lancasters-darkest-moment-the-massacre-of-the-conestoga-indians/)
Who: Paxton Boys vs Susquehannock Indians
Where: Conestoga Town, Pennsylvania
In response to Pontiac's rebellion, a group of vigilante Pennsylvania settlers known as the Paxton Boys killed and scalped 20 peaceful Susquehannock Indians, including children, and burned multiple cabins, using the claim that the town of Conestoga was secretly aiding hostile forces, which it in fact wasn't doing. Conestoga was, in fact, an Indian christian town who had lived in peace for decades. -
Lord Dunmore's War(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Murray,_4th_Earl_of_Dunmore#/media/File:Sir_Joshua_Reynolds_-_John_Murray,_4th_Earl_of_Dunmore_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg)
Who: Virginia colony vs Shawnee and Mingo American Indian nations
Where: Upper Ohio Valley
After violence was increasing due to British colonies were venturing into territories that Native Americans had hunting rights in, the 2 Indian nations began attacks against the British. This resulted in the British declaring war in order to "pacify Indian war bands". The war ended with an Indian defeat, with the Indians losing hunting rights in the area and establishing a boundary using the Ohio river. -
American Revolution (Washington Crossing the Delaware, 1851. Emanuel Leutze.)
Who:American Colonies Vs British and Natives
Where:All over the 13 colonies
The American revolution is already widely known, so I will not explain it. However, Native Americans did play a major part in the war. The Native Americans of all different tribes sided in favor of the British, in hopes to stop Westward expansion. They avoided combat, but there were a few Native American war parties sent out by the Iroquois and Cherokee. They had limited, if any, representation in the Treaty of Paris. -
Period: to
Cherokee-American Wars
Who: Cherokee+British troops vs United States
Where: Upper South
When the Revolutionary war broke out, the Cherokee immediately sided with the British in order to fight off the colonists. Lead by Dragging Canoe, the Cherokee people lead numerous raids, ambushes, and campaigns to kill and to help the British cause. After the revolution, the militant members of the Cherokee fought in numerous other battles to undermine the United States, including the Northwest Indian wars and numerous others. -
Northwest Indian War(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Indian_War)
Who: United States vs Western confederacy of Native Americans+ British support
Where: Great Lakes region
Although these territories have been fighting grounds between natives and colonists for centuries, this land was to be used as a border between British land and American land. Native Americans, however, still lived here and were being supported by unauthorized British forts. Fighting ensued, with major American defeats and an awful amount of casualties but an overall win for the United States -
Tecumseh's War(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tecumseh)
Who: Tecumseh's Confederacy vs United States
Where: Indiana territory
Tecumseh, a Shawnee leader, unites a large amount of tribes in order to repel Westward expansion and selling of Native lands. Climaxed at battle of Tippecanoe, where general William Henry Harrison defeats them and weakens the confederacy, This spills over into the war of 1812, as the British supplied weapons to Tecumseh's confederacy. This war ends when Tecumseh's second in command dies in battle and the confederacy dissolves. -
War of 1812(https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/brief-overview-war-1812)
Who: United States+ Natives vs Great Britain+ Natives
The war of 1812, with all its bloodshed and destruction, did not accomplish much at all for either side, as it ended in a stalemate with not much of a resolution. As most historians state, the real losers in this war were the indigenous peoples. Tribes fighting for the British and for the Americans never got any really reward and only lost their lives and villages. No indigenous representation was given at the peace negotiations or treaties. -
Creek War(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Creek_War_Treaty_1814.jpg)
Who: Red Stick Creeks vs United States+ opposing creeks and tribes
Where: Southern United States
The Creek war began by Red Stick Creek Natives attempting to repel United Statesencroachment. After a few skirmishes, this war lead to the inclusion of not only the United States, but white militia, Upper Creek Indians, opposing tribes like the Chereokee as well as Spanish support for the Red Stick creeks. Ended with a United States victory and the surrender of over 21 million acres of land. -
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Indian Removal Act(https://www.illumeably.com/the-indian-removal-act/)
Who: Andrew Jackson vs Native Americans
Where: United States
On the 28th of May,1830, President Andrew Jackson passed a the Indian Removal Act, which allowed negotiation to move Indians from their natives land to federal lands west of the Mississippi so white settlements could be established on their Native lands. This act was strongly enforced and lead to the Cherokee working together to repel this act, which lead the government to forcibly remove them in the trail of tears march. -
Black Hawk War(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Hawk_War)
Who: Black Hawk's British Band vs United States
Where: Illinois and Michigan Territory
A Sauk leader known as Black Hawk banded together with other Native Americans from other tribes and formed what he called the "British Band". With a goal of peaceful resettling into his ancestral land, U.S. officials assumed his band to be hostile and opened fire . Black Hawk responded by successfully attacking at another battle, but he however lost the whole war to the United States force and weakened army. -
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Ute Wars
Who: Ute people vs United States
Where: Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah
An array of conflicts waged by the Ute people against the United States, these wars occurred in the dry desert territories as to halt westward expansion. From the Jicarilla war, in which the Apache and Ute skirmished with the United States, to the Battle at Fort Utah, to the controversial Walker war, and even to Black Hawk's war. Yet, after all this, the United States won and moved the Ute people all to reservations. -
French and Indian War(https://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/french-and-indian-war)
Who: English Colonists vs French+Natives
Where: North America
This war, pitting the English and the French over territorial disputes, began in Europe over tense relations but spilled over into North America. Most Natives sided with the French, as the French were found to be friendlier trading partners, but there were some tribes, like the Iroquois, who supported the British. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris, seeing France give up most of its North American territory to Great Britain. -
Period: to
Sioux Wars
Who:Sioux people vs United States
Where: Great plains
The Sioux wars were multiple conflicts by the Sioux people, starting with the death of 31 Americans at the Grattan massacre. This lead to the Dakota War of 1836, caused by debt owed to the natives, the Colorado war, caused by raids and attacks conducted by both sides, the Powder river war, a repelling of a punitive expedition, Red Cloud's war, caused by disputes over land, and the Great Sioux wars, which involved the Battle of Little Bighorn. -
Sand Creek Massacre(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_Creek_massacre)
Who: Cheyenne and Arapaho Natives vs United States
Where: Colorado territory
In response to the Hungate massacre, where a small white family was killed, a 675-man U.S. army calvary force lead by John Chivington attacked a village populated by Cheyenne and Arapaho natives, killing and mutilating 70-500, 2/3rds of which were women and children. These U.S. troops also scalped indiscriminately and cut off the genitalia of men, women, and children and used them as trophies. No one was ever charged. -
Battle of Little Bighorn(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Little_Bighorn)
Who: Lakota and other tribes vs United States
Where: Southern Montana territory
A decisive victory for natives and crushing defeat for Americans, it began as tension rose with the United States ordering the Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne tribes to relocate, due to their land containing gold. They refused, and George Custer was dispatched to remove them. Lead by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, Custer's calvary was wiped out by an overwhelming amount of warrior natives in the Little Bighorn valley.