Impact of the American Civil War on Native Americans

Impact of the American Civil War on Native Americans

Native Americans served on both sides during the Civil War. Many nations were involved such as the Cherokee, Creek, Delaware, Ojibwe and Huron. The Cherokees supported the South and when they lost were considered disloyal and their rights were taken away.

The war allowed native nations who were fighting the US troops a rest especially in the west of the USA. When the war was over however the many US troops had become experienced and even more committed to taking native lands for the USA. The Civil War made the US army stronger and more determined which was bad news for the native Americans who were fighting them and desperately trying to hold on to their land.

Impact of the American War of Independence on Native Americans

Impact of the American War of Independence on Native Americans 

Most native nations fought with the British who promised to protect them from the colonists taking native land. The powerful Iroquois confederacy supported the British and was destroyed as a result by U.S. Soldiers. Another nation, the Cherokee, were also attacked for helping the British and their lands and homes were burnt to the ground.

More importantly, perhaps, when the British gave up their lands in America there was no mention of the land owned by natives. The new USA claimed it all as their own and refused to recognise natives as independent people. This started the gradual expansion of the USA from East to west coast.

As US settlers moved west Native Americans were killed and herded from their own land onto crowded reservations where, because of poor land, they often starved. Many native nations were used as slaves and were killed in huge numbers. The Yuki nation of California went from numbering 3,500 before 1849 to under 100 in less than 50 years.

Colonists: Europeans who moved to North America to live

Impact of the 7 Years War on Native Americans

Impact of the 7 Years War on Native Americans

Native Americans fought on both sides during the war. The powerful Iroquois confederacy backed the British. Others such as Ottawas backed the French.

Before the war the British offered Native nations incentives to be their allies against the French. Once the French were defeated the British did not need to worry about keeping native nations happy so could do what they wanted to them, including force them off their land.

This is what they began to do. The British took more and more land off of the Native Americans.

Incentives: reasons to do something

Allies: friends, helpers