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French & Indian raid against Deerfield MA.
A successful raid of Indians with French allies pushing back against settler encroachment on the western frontier of Mass. Native Americans demonstrated military skill opposing the colonial settlements which were continuing to invade Indian lands. In the early 1700s the various tribes were confirming the relative power still held by the original inhabitants facing the rapacious British settlers. -
Fort Necessity PA
Lt. Col. George Washington's inept attempt to expel the French from the Ohio country, now in western Penn. He was sent by the governor of Virginia to inform the French the territory claimed by France was actually British. The French rejected the claim along with native American allies and defeated the Virginia military force at Fort Necessity forcing an embarrassing surrender. The indigenous tribes thereby demonstrated continued diplomatic and military strength resisting British encroachment. -
Pontiac's Rebellion Ohio region
Facing continuing incursions into native lands for more than 100 years Indians in the Great Lakes area became increasingly angry at colonial conduct. Tensions escalated after the Treaty of Paris in 1763 which ended the French and Indian War (a catastrophic defeat ending the French empire in North America). Pontiac was an indigenous leader that arose to fight new British claims in the former French territories. His rebellion failed and helped to push Indians further west as Americans advanced. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris in 1783 secured formal American independence from Britain. As a consequence Great Britain ceded to the newly independent nation all lands east of the Mississippi. The aftermath of this decision had profound and fatal dangers for native Americans. A great European power was no longer as close physically, and Indians were now more exposed than ever before to the full onslaught of a racist hostile power with population levels growing exponentially. -
Battle of Fall Timbers
The 1794 Battle of Fallen Timbers, which took place again in the Ohio country, was another attempt of native tribes to end American settlement in the region. A new Indian alliance was created - the Western Confederacy, led by the Shawnee and Miami - but it was completely defeated and was a total victory for the United States until hostilities began again in 1811. This battle further illustrates the receding influence of native peoples in controlling their own destiny. -
Battle of Tippecanoe
In 1809 the great Shawnee leader Tecumseh attempted to recreate the Western Confederacy in order to block continued white settlement, this time in current day Indiana. Governor Wm. Henry Harrison destroyed the Indian settlement of Prophetstown and sealed the fate of native resistance. After more than 200 years of struggle east of the Mississippi Native American resistance is crushed and a civilization is completely subjugated.
