Native-American Indian Relations
The relation between the early colonists and Native-American Indians through American settlers and Native-Americans changed so drastically due to many tragic factors. Although the biggest factor would have to be that the settlers saw the Native-Americans as savages and felt that they needed to alter their cultural ways to the European ways. The Sand Creek massacre and the Battle of Little Bighorn were two events that greatly affected the relations among the settlers and the Native Americans. These are only some of the numerous events that caused tension in the relationship between the American settlers and the Native-Americans.
The Sand Creek Massacre was a tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of 150 Native-Americans mainly consisting
of women, children, and the elderly. Black Kettle sent most of his Warriors away to hunt because he was prepared to surrender. He also flew the American flag over his lodge as an act of peace. On November 29th, 1864 Chivington ordered his troops to attack despite the fact Black Kettle was prepared to surrender. Some officers refused to listen to Chivington’s order and told their men to hold fire. Still many soldiers attacked the village and killed many innocent unarmed Native-Americans. This event caused a huge outrage among the Plains tribes which led to them declaring war on the United States, which left a big dent in the relationship between the settlers and the Native-American Indians.
The Battle of Little Bighorn occurred on June 25th, 1876 when General Custer attacked a large hunting camp belonging to multiple tribes. The hunting camp was on the Little Bighorn River in Montana. On this day several Cheyenne leaders, Sitting Bull, and Crazy Horse defeated Custer and the seventh Cavalry. Two hundred and fifty American soldiers were killed along with General Custer. It was a complete failure for the U.S. military. Because of the deaths of many American soldiers the American people were very enraged with the Native Americans which caused a lot of tension in their relationship. Although around the 1970’s many people started to understand that Custer’s actions were completely appalling.
These were just two of the horrific events that resulted in a weak relationship between the early colonists and Native-American Indians. The early colonists were taking away the Native-American’s land like it was nothing and that did not make the Native Americans content. Before the settlers came to America the Native Americans were very satisfied with their way of life, but throughout a 200 year time period a hateful and loathsome relationship developed between the Native-Americans and American settlers.
The Sand Creek Massacre was a tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of 150 Native-Americans mainly consisting
of women, children, and the elderly. Black Kettle sent most of his Warriors away to hunt because he was prepared to surrender. He also flew the American flag over his lodge as an act of peace. On November 29th, 1864 Chivington ordered his troops to attack despite the fact Black Kettle was prepared to surrender. Some officers refused to listen to Chivington’s order and told their men to hold fire. Still many soldiers attacked the village and killed many innocent unarmed Native-Americans. This event caused a huge outrage among the Plains tribes which led to them declaring war on the United States, which left a big dent in the relationship between the settlers and the Native-American Indians.
The Battle of Little Bighorn occurred on June 25th, 1876 when General Custer attacked a large hunting camp belonging to multiple tribes. The hunting camp was on the Little Bighorn River in Montana. On this day several Cheyenne leaders, Sitting Bull, and Crazy Horse defeated Custer and the seventh Cavalry. Two hundred and fifty American soldiers were killed along with General Custer. It was a complete failure for the U.S. military. Because of the deaths of many American soldiers the American people were very enraged with the Native Americans which caused a lot of tension in their relationship. Although around the 1970’s many people started to understand that Custer’s actions were completely appalling.
These were just two of the horrific events that resulted in a weak relationship between the early colonists and Native-American Indians. The early colonists were taking away the Native-American’s land like it was nothing and that did not make the Native Americans content. Before the settlers came to America the Native Americans were very satisfied with their way of life, but throughout a 200 year time period a hateful and loathsome relationship developed between the Native-Americans and American settlers.