Most Impressive Native American Leader

Haley Aldridge
History 1302
Bruce 6th
Most Impressive Native American Leader

After the Civil War the United States looked westward to expand the nation to

the Pacific Ocean. An impediment to westward expansion was Native Americans

already occupying an claiming large territories. Most Native Americans did not

understand the scope or magnitude of the hordes of people moving west. The

primitive tribes of Native America were unprepared to deal with the magnitude

of change that was to be forced on them. As with most people in times of need,

Native American leaders emerged out of necessity. Geronimo, Chief Joseph and

Sitting Bull were three Native Americans leaders who lived in different geographic

regions of the western territories and were members of different tribes. Each

gained notoriety as impressive Native American leaders. Of the three, Sitting

Bull was the most impressive leader.

Geronimo, an Apache and member of the Bedonkohe group, lived in Northern

Mexico bordering the current states of Arizona and New Mexico. Geronimo lived

in peace until Mexican troops attacked his village in his absence. His mother,

wife, three children and many other villagers were murdered.1

Enraged and bent on revenge, Geronimo was part of a group of warriors sent to

exact revenge on the Mexican Army Garrison thought to be responsible for the

attack on the Apache village.2 A trap was set, the Mexican soldiers from the

garrison gave chase. All but one was killed. The captain was captured alive and

set on fire within sight of his village.3 Rage and the need for revenge defined the

rest of Geronimo's life.

Geronimo, along with small bands of Apaches, continued to raid settlements and

murder remote settlers in northern Mexico, Arizona and New Mexico. The Tribal

Apaches west and north of the Bedonkohe. Apaches signed a treaty and agreed to

move to a reservation.4 Geronimo did