Klamath Lake massacre facts for kids

The Klamath Lake massacre was a tragic event where at least fourteen Klamath people were killed. This happened on the shores of Klamath Lake in what is now Oregon, United States. The killings took place on May 12, 1846, by a group led by John C. Frémont and Kit Carson.

History of the Klamath Lake Incident

Why It Happened

In the 1840s, many Americans wanted to expand the country's borders. They aimed to take land claimed by Mexico and various Native American tribes. This idea was called "Manifest Destiny". It suggested that the United States was meant to control all of North America.

A key leader of this movement was Senator Thomas Hart Benton from Missouri. He helped his son-in-law, John C. Frémont, get money from the government. This money was for expeditions to map and explore the western lands.

In 1845, Captain Frémont was sent to explore the Great Basin and Alta California, which was part of Mexico. Frémont and his men spent several months in northern California. They caused problems with Mexican officials and encouraged American settlers there. Before reaching Oregon, on April 5, 1846, Frémont's group was involved in another attack, known as the Frémont massacre, near present-day Redding, California. After that, they traveled north into Oregon Territory.

The Attack at Klamath Lake

As Frémont and his group traveled, they began attacking Native Americans they encountered. On the night of May 9, 1846, a group of 15 to 20 Klamath natives fought back. They attacked Frémont's camp in the dark, killing two or three of his men. Frémont then decided he needed to "square accounts" with the Klamath people. His scouts killed two Klamath warriors on May 11, 1846, but Frémont felt this was not enough.

So, on May 12, 1846, Frémont's assistant, Kit Carson, led an attack. They targeted a Klamath village called Dokdokwas on the shores of Klamath Lake. The attackers destroyed the village and killed at least 14 villagers. They did this without losing any of their own men.

What Happened Next

No one from Frémont's expedition faced any consequences for the killings. The U.S. government ordered Frémont to return to California. He was needed to take part in the war against Mexico. Because of this, he did not come back to Oregon territory.

Life After the Massacre

John C. Frémont's Later Life

Frémont and his group continued to attack Native Americans as they traveled back to California. They even launched a "preemptive" attack on a Native American settlement (see Sutter Buttes massacre). John C. Frémont became the Military Governor of California in January 1847. However, he had to leave this position less than two months later. In 1850, Frémont became California's first U.S. Senator. In 1856, he was chosen as the Republican candidate for President, but he lost the election to James Buchanan. He later served as a general for the Union during the American Civil War.

The Klamath People's Journey

The Klamath people continued to face violence from White settlers. There were many similar attacks and massacres. By 1855, newspapers reported that people in the area saw it as a "war of extermination." They were killing all adult males. One captain even reported men saying they wanted to completely wipe out all Native Americans in that region.

In 1864, the Klamath people were forced to give up most of their land. They had lived on twenty-two million acres, but they had to give up twenty million of those acres. The remaining two million acres became the Klamath Reservation. On this land, they became financially successful. They ran a profitable timber mill, raised cattle, and started other businesses.

However, in 1954, a law was passed by Congress. This law ended the Klamath tribe's official status, even though the Klamath people did not want it. They were forced to give up their claim to the land and lost all federal services. In return, they received a payment. In 1986, their tribal status was given back to them. But their land was not returned.