Native Americans in the Revolutionary War
Reasons for entering war
· To fight against the colonial expansion into their territory
· Did not want the British replaced, because they fought to stop expansion
· Recruited by British by gestures of feasts and other offers
· Fought for political independence, cultural integrity, and the protection of their land and property
· British were more persuasive than Patriots were, and most Natives joined the British side
Impact on Revolution
· Provided large amounts of troops to the British
· Fought with the loyalists in raiding towns, such as on the frontier of Pennsylvania
· Attacked western French towns
· Continued the fight in the west well after the war ended
· Helped British in some battles, but had no immense impact on the war
Effect of Revolution on their lives
· End of the Proclamation Line led to increase in expansion, and taking of Native lands
· From the war many Natives were killed, and the population declined
· Land given to the states in the West were taken from the Natives
· Even though they did not feel the war was lost Natives lands were seized by Patriots
· Showed how Americans began to dominate the land, and the Natives could no longer stop the expansion west
KB and DK
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11 comments:
It's clear how bad of a deal Native Americans have historically gotten in relation to Americans. They go to war in order to protect their land and freedom, much like the colonists, and they end up with severe loss of land, freedom, and life. I'm not sure that the colonists can be blamed for the taking the land considering the natives fought against them, but it's certainly not right that the Native Americans were so mistreated. It seems to be one large manipulation, always working against the Native Americans.
Native Americans are just always getting screwed over. By fighting in the war, they are putting their lives at just as much risk as anyone else. It's just not fair how they were disrespected and mistreated.
I think Natives getting manipulated by the system is present throughout most of early american history. They were treated badly, and this was no exception. Just like African Americans, they fought bravely, and to protect their way of life, but by the end of the war, their situation wasn't much better.
I believe we were very cruel to the Native Americas. We invaded their land and caused them much harm. We acted as though they weren't human and we could treat them as we wished. I do not believe this was right. They deserve to stay on the land they've lived on for thousands of years. We can't just march in and take everything they have from them.
Remember, the common theme in American history is that Native Americans get screwed over. Even today the legacy we've given them is poor education, small pieces of terrible land, poverty, and alcoholism. Yay America!
Here's an idea: What if Britain had used the money it spent on hiring Hessians on buying over Indian tribes to fight for them? This accomplishes several things:
1. A substantial army. Indians and colonists essentially had the same war experience (none). Britain could have better trained the Indians than the colonists could in the same period of time.
2. Moral advantage. Indians can say, "Hey, this our home land we're fighting for" as much as the colonists could, perhaps even more so.
3. Indians might know the terrain even better.
4. Indians would be better supplied, not having to cross a 3,000 mile ocean.
5. Depending on how many different tribes Britain rallied to their cause, resistance could keep up all the way to the West. Colonists would be forced to fight an offensive war, which they would lose against Britain.
Obviously, this didn't happen. But if it did. The strategy nullifies most of the colonial advantages, while Britain retains its strengths. Just an errant interesting thought.
It is truly appalling that the Native Americans put themselves in a position of life or death to fight in the war. By fighting they hope that it will stop colonists from taking their lands. After they lose it goes all downhill for the Native Americans. Even with all the laws and proclamations to protect the natives people just don't see them as being that important and therefore are being taking advantages of. The Native Americans can never seem to win.
The Native Americans were pretty much doomed, even if the british had won, they weren't going to be saved by the Proclamation line.The colonists aren't going to really care about the line, it isn't enforced, and the British ended up building forts to protect the settlers anyway. No matter who won, the Natives were screwed, Albeit that with Britain they'd be conquered unofficially by colonists, instead of official by things like Native American Removal Act.
The Native Americans must have really wanted to take back their lands from the Americans if they were willing to fight life or death. I feel bad for them because they can never obtain there own property. We were really cruel to the Americans but I give them mad props for fighitng back for themselves.
No matter what situtation we are discussing in AMerican History the namtive american get hte short end of the stick. i wonder what life would have been life in teh present if colonist would ahve respected the native americans
Obviously Native Americans are always getting screwed over. Great Britain saw this and used it to their advantage. Native Americans wanted to fight for their land, and with persuasion from the British, they fought against the Americans.
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