The Pyramid Lake War of 1860 was an unavoidable war that stemmed from the years of abuse and mistreat against the Paiute tribe by Euro-American settlers. The Great Basin tribes were being forced into starvation by the Euro-American settlers who flooded into the area and overtook the lands. While the Great Basin Tribes tried to remain peaceful, after years of violent acts against them, they finally stood up against the settlers.
The conflict which is considered to be “the single greatest confrontation between American Indians and whites in Nevada’s history” (Edwards, “The Battle of Pyramid Lake”) began when the settlers arrived in the area and started to take the land for themselves. Described by Reid and James in Uncovering Nevada’s Past, …show more content…
The second, and final, battle of the war ended with the Indians being “…driven off their reservation” (Pyramid Lake War) as they retreated from battle in the middle of the night.
The Euro-Americans were at fault for the war. Their treatment towards the tribes and lack of understanding were the main reason that the events happened. The tribes tried to remain peaceful with the settlers, despite a few violent encounters throughout the years, even going as far as giving the white settlers, their own tribe members to be put to death for “justice”. One event is described by Hopkins in book tells of a Washoe chief giving three of his men after the settlers believe that the tribe is responsible for killing two white men, “… because he is afraid that all of us will be killed by you.”
The war could not have been prevented. The settlers had chosen not to peacefully live with the Paiute tribes, as well as the other Great Basin tribes. The Indian tribes were actively trying to avoid conflicts with the white settlers, and even help them survive the new lands they had taken. The settlers felt that could dispense justice to the Indians, even for acts that they did not do, but yet they choose to have a war over the Indians protecting their young daughters and killing the men who raped them, even though they would have done the
The conflict which is considered to be “the single greatest confrontation between American Indians and whites in Nevada’s history” (Edwards, “The Battle of Pyramid Lake”) began when the settlers arrived in the area and started to take the land for themselves. Described by Reid and James in Uncovering Nevada’s Past, …show more content…
The second, and final, battle of the war ended with the Indians being “…driven off their reservation” (Pyramid Lake War) as they retreated from battle in the middle of the night.
The Euro-Americans were at fault for the war. Their treatment towards the tribes and lack of understanding were the main reason that the events happened. The tribes tried to remain peaceful with the settlers, despite a few violent encounters throughout the years, even going as far as giving the white settlers, their own tribe members to be put to death for “justice”. One event is described by Hopkins in book tells of a Washoe chief giving three of his men after the settlers believe that the tribe is responsible for killing two white men, “… because he is afraid that all of us will be killed by you.”
The war could not have been prevented. The settlers had chosen not to peacefully live with the Paiute tribes, as well as the other Great Basin tribes. The Indian tribes were actively trying to avoid conflicts with the white settlers, and even help them survive the new lands they had taken. The settlers felt that could dispense justice to the Indians, even for acts that they did not do, but yet they choose to have a war over the Indians protecting their young daughters and killing the men who raped them, even though they would have done the