American Indian Wars
Topic: Settler Colonialism: Native Peoples of America and Australia · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 6 "Displacing Indigenous Peoples"
Meaning
The American Indian Wars were a long series of armed conflicts between European settlers (later the US army) and native peoples. The settlers kept moving west, and the natives fought to keep their land. These wars broke native power and opened the West to farms, mines and railways. From 1865 to 1890, the US army crushed native rebellions one after another.
Example
Between 1865 and 1890, the US army put down native risings across the West. By 1890 the bison had been almost wiped out, which ended the natives' hunting life. In 1892 the frontier was declared closed.
Don't confuse with
- Metis revolts: these took place in Canada. The Metis are people of mixed native and European descent. They rose in armed revolt between 1869 and 1885 (including the Red River Rebellion) and then gave up.
Related concepts
- Cherokee
- Worcester v Georgia
- Indian Removal Act 1830
- Trail of Tears
- Indian reservations
- Wounded Knee Massacre 1890
- Chief Seattle