In 1832, ongoing tension in Illinois between American settlers and Native American tribes ignited into a summer of conflict where the participants failed to recognize opportunities to deescalate hostilities. This paper will begin by providing historical information relevant to understanding the conflict’s root causes. The paper will further explain that misunderstandings among both combatants regarding the root causes created an atmosphere that fostered an environment conducive for conflict. Additionally, the paper will reveal that determined American and Native American leadership misjudged situations and opportunities that potentially could have led to the conflict’s avoidance. More specifically, Native American leadership failed to
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Terms within the treaty stated that the Sauk and Fox tribes would cede their lands east of the Mississippi River to the United States (Lewis, 2014). In return for their land, the Sauk and Fox tribes would immediately receive over $2,000 in goods and a combined annual payment of $1,000 (Trask, 2006). Article II of the treaty outlines the territory the Sauk and Fox tribes ceded to the United States, which covered large areas in present-day northwestern Illinois and southern Wisconsin (Kappler, 1904, p. 74). In all, the total area of land the tribes ceded to the United States was 50 million acres (King, …show more content…
Fighting between the United States and Native Americans in the Old Northwest Territory predated the war by six months (Lewis, n.d.). Black Hawk, who would later lead Sauk and Fox warriors during the war bearing his name, led Sauk warriors during several attacks against the United States during the War of 1812 (Lewis, n.d.). Despite some Native Americans taking up arms against the United States, American officials were able to convince many neutral Sauk and Fox to separate from their tribes (Lewis, n.d.). According to Lewis (n.d.), this would divide many tribal councils and tribes. Keokuk, an important Sauk chief, was one such individual that maintained close and constant relations with the United States (Stevens, 2013). Tribal divisions created during the War of 1812 would surface again. In 1832, Black Hawk would disobey Keokuk and cross the Mississippi River into Illinois, which was the catalyst for the Black Hawk War (Stevens, 2013). Many Native Americans continued to fight even after the War of 1812 ended in 1815 (Lewis, n.d.). Lewis (n.d.) says they kept fighting because they “hoped to recover the lands that they had lost in the previous two decades”. By 1816, the tribes involved in the war had signed treaties with the United States to end hostilities (Lewis, n.d.). The Sauk was the last tribe to sign a treaty with the United States in May
Terms within the treaty stated that the Sauk and Fox tribes would cede their lands east of the Mississippi River to the United States (Lewis, 2014). In return for their land, the Sauk and Fox tribes would immediately receive over $2,000 in goods and a combined annual payment of $1,000 (Trask, 2006). Article II of the treaty outlines the territory the Sauk and Fox tribes ceded to the United States, which covered large areas in present-day northwestern Illinois and southern Wisconsin (Kappler, 1904, p. 74). In all, the total area of land the tribes ceded to the United States was 50 million acres (King, …show more content…
Fighting between the United States and Native Americans in the Old Northwest Territory predated the war by six months (Lewis, n.d.). Black Hawk, who would later lead Sauk and Fox warriors during the war bearing his name, led Sauk warriors during several attacks against the United States during the War of 1812 (Lewis, n.d.). Despite some Native Americans taking up arms against the United States, American officials were able to convince many neutral Sauk and Fox to separate from their tribes (Lewis, n.d.). According to Lewis (n.d.), this would divide many tribal councils and tribes. Keokuk, an important Sauk chief, was one such individual that maintained close and constant relations with the United States (Stevens, 2013). Tribal divisions created during the War of 1812 would surface again. In 1832, Black Hawk would disobey Keokuk and cross the Mississippi River into Illinois, which was the catalyst for the Black Hawk War (Stevens, 2013). Many Native Americans continued to fight even after the War of 1812 ended in 1815 (Lewis, n.d.). Lewis (n.d.) says they kept fighting because they “hoped to recover the lands that they had lost in the previous two decades”. By 1816, the tribes involved in the war had signed treaties with the United States to end hostilities (Lewis, n.d.). The Sauk was the last tribe to sign a treaty with the United States in May