Black Hawk War facts for kids

Chief Black Hawk

The Black Hawk War was a short but important conflict in 1832. It happened between Native American tribes, led by Chief Black Hawk, and American settlers. The fighting mainly took place in the areas that are now Illinois and Wisconsin. Many small battles occurred, like the Battle of Stillman's Run and the Battle of Bad Axe. During the war, dozens of Americans and hundreds of Native Americans lost their lives. Sadly, even more Americans died from diseases like cholera than from fighting. After the war, the Sac, Fox, and Kickapoo Native American tribes lost most of their lands in Illinois and Wisconsin. Interestingly, two future presidents, Abraham Lincoln (who became a Union President) and Jefferson Davis (who became a Confederate President), both fought in this war on the American side.

What Caused the Black Hawk War?

The main reason for the Black Hawk War was a disagreement over land. In 1804, some leaders of the Sac and Fox tribes signed a document called the Treaty of St. Louis. This treaty gave a huge amount of Native American land to the United States government.

A Treaty That Caused Trouble

Many Sac and Fox people, including Chief Black Hawk, did not agree with this treaty. They said their leaders did not have the right to sell the land. They also said the leaders who signed the treaty might not have understood what they were signing. Black Hawk believed the land, especially their main village called Saukenuk, still belonged to his people. Saukenuk was a very important place for the Sac and Fox tribes.

Moving West and Returning Home

As more American settlers moved into the area, the U.S. government told the Sac and Fox people to move west of the Mississippi River. Many tribes, led by a chief named Keokuk, followed these orders and moved to what is now Iowa. However, Black Hawk and his followers, known as the "British Band," refused to leave their homes. They believed the land was still theirs.

In April 1832, Black Hawk led about 1,000 Sac, Fox, and Kickapoo people, including women and children, back across the Mississippi River into Illinois. They wanted to plant crops and live in their traditional lands. This return caused a lot of fear among the American settlers.

Key Events of the War

When Black Hawk's band returned, the Illinois governor called out the state militia. These were citizen soldiers who were not part of the regular army.

The Battle of Stillman's Run

One of the first big fights happened on May 14, 1832. A group of about 270 militia soldiers, led by Major Isaiah Stillman, found Black Hawk's camp. Black Hawk sent three of his men to meet them with a white flag, which means they wanted to talk peacefully. But the militia soldiers ignored the flag and attacked them. Two of Black Hawk's men were killed.

Black Hawk's warriors quickly fought back. Even though they were outnumbered, they surprised the militia. The militia soldiers panicked and ran away, which is why this event is called "Stillman's Run." This victory made Black Hawk's warriors feel stronger, but it also made the American government more determined to fight.

Spreading Conflict

After Stillman's Run, the war spread. Native American warriors attacked some settlements, and settlers built forts for protection. Many Potawatomi and Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) tribes tried to stay out of the fighting. Some, like the Potawatomi chief Shabbona, even tried to help protect settlers.

The Battle of Bad Axe

The final major battle happened on August 2, 1832, at a place called Bad Axe, along the Mississippi River. Black Hawk's people were trying to cross the river to escape into Iowa. They were weak from hunger and sickness.

American soldiers, including those on a steamboat called the Warrior, attacked Black Hawk's band as they tried to cross. It was a terrible defeat for the Native Americans. Many men, women, and children were killed as they tried to flee. Black Hawk himself managed to escape but was later captured.

After the War

After his capture, Black Hawk was taken on a tour of the eastern United States. He met President Andrew Jackson and became famous. He later wrote his autobiography, telling his side of the story.

Land Loss and Legacy

The Black Hawk War officially ended with new treaties. The Sac, Fox, and Kickapoo tribes lost even more land in Illinois and Wisconsin. This war was one of the last major conflicts between Native Americans and settlers in this region. It showed how difficult it was for Native Americans to keep their lands and way of life as more settlers moved west.

The war also had a lasting impact on the future leaders who fought in it, like Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis. It was an important event in the history of the American frontier.

Images for kids

• 

  The land ceded to the United States in the 1804 Treaty of St. Louis is shown here in yellow.

• 

  Keokuk by George Catlin, c. 1830s

• 

  Newspaper account of the alarm caused by Sauk returning to Saukenuk, Washington National Intelligencer, June 13, 1831

• 

  Fort Armstrong was located on Rock Island, which is now known as Arsenal Island. The view is from the Illinois side, with Iowa in the background.

• 

  Potawatomi chief Shabbona tried to keep his tribe out of the war.

• 

  Isaiah Stillman, militia commander at the Battle of Stillman's Run

• 

  An 1857 painting of the battlefield at Horseshoe Bend

• 

  Replica of Apple River Fort in Elizabeth, Illinois

• 

  Native American women and children fleeing for their lives, preparing to cross the Mississippi River, during Black Hawk's defeat at the Battle of Bad Axe

• 

  The steamboat Warrior firing upon escaping Native Americans trying to get across the Mississippi River to safety in Iowa

• 

  Statue of Black Hawk, Black Hawk State Historic Site

See also

In Spanish: Guerra de Halcón Negro para niños