List of American Indian Wars facts for kids

The American Indian Wars were a long series of fights between European settlers and their governments, and later the United States government and American settlers, against different Native American groups. These conflicts happened across the land that is now the United States, starting in the 1500s and lasting until the early 1900s. They began with the Tiguex War in 1540 in what is now New Mexico and mostly ended with the Apache Wars in 1924 in the Southwestern United States.

As more European settlers arrived and spread across the land, they met Native American communities more often. This led to a big increase in conflicts, especially in the second half of the 1800s.

Early Conflicts: The 1500s

In the 1500s, the first major conflicts began as European explorers and settlers arrived. The Spanish, for example, fought against Native American groups in what is now the Southwestern United States and Mexico. These early wars often happened because the Spanish wanted land, resources like silver, or to spread their religion.

One important early fight was the Tiguex War (1540–41) in New Mexico, where Spanish explorers fought against the Pueblo people. Another was the Battle of Mabila (1540), where Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto fought the Mississippian culture. Sadly, many lives were lost on both sides. The Mixtón War (1540-1542) in Mexico led to Native people being forced to change their ways or work for the Spanish, which helped the Spanish gain access to valuable silver mines. The Chichimeca War (1550–90) also led to changes in how the Spanish treated Native people, moving towards trying to convert them peacefully instead of by force.

Wars in the 1600s

The 1600s saw more European countries, like England and the Netherlands, setting up colonies in North America. This led to new conflicts with Native American tribes over land and resources.

• The Anglo-Powhatan Wars (1610–46) were a series of fights between English colonists in Virginia and the Powhatan Confederacy. These wars shaped the early relationship between the English and Native Americans in that region.
• The Pequot War (1636–38) in New England was a very intense conflict where English colonists and their Native American allies fought against the Pequot people. The Pequot were defeated, and a peace agreement called the Treaty of Hartford was signed.
• The Beaver Wars (1642–98) were long and fierce battles mainly between the Iroquois Confederacy (allied with the English and Dutch) and many other Native American tribes (allied with the French). These wars were fought over control of the fur trade, especially for beaver pelts, which were valuable in Europe.
• King Philip's War (1675–78) was a major conflict in New England. Native American tribes, led by Metacom (also known as King Philip), fought against the English colonists. It was one of the deadliest wars in early American history, with huge losses on both sides.

Conflicts in the 1700s

The 1700s brought more competition between European powers like France and Great Britain for control of North America. Native American tribes often allied with one side or the other, leading to larger wars.

• Queen Anne's War (1702–13) and King George's War (1744–48) were parts of bigger European wars that spilled over into North America. Native American tribes often joined either the French or the British, fighting alongside them.
• The Tuscarora War (1711–15) in North Carolina led to the Tuscarora people being defeated and many moving away from the coast or migrating north.
• The Yamasee War (1715–17) in South Carolina was a major uprising by the Yamasee and other tribes against the colonists. The colonists eventually won, gaining more control over the coast.
• The French and Indian War (1754–63) was a huge conflict between Great Britain and France, with many Native American allies on both sides. It was part of the larger Seven Years' War happening around the world. Great Britain won, gaining control of much of North America.
• Pontiac's War (1763–66) happened after the French and Indian War. Native American tribes, led by Chief Pontiac, were unhappy with British rule and policies. They fought against the British, which led to some changes in how the British treated Native Americans.
• The American Revolutionary War (1775–83) also involved Native American tribes. Some tribes sided with the American colonists, while others allied with the British. The outcome of this war had a big impact on Native American lands and futures.
• The Northwest Indian War (1785–95) was fought between the United States and a group of Native American tribes known as the Western Confederacy. The war ended with the Treaty of Greenville, where Native Americans gave up a lot of land in the Ohio Valley.

Wars in the 1800s

The 1800s were a time of rapid expansion for the United States, leading to many conflicts as settlers moved westward.

• Tecumseh's War (1811–13) and the War of 1812 (1812–15) saw Native American leader Tecumseh try to unite tribes to resist American expansion. He allied with the British during the War of 1812. After Tecumseh's defeat, Native American resistance in the East weakened.
• The Creek War (1813–14) was a civil war within the Creek Nation, but it also involved the United States. It ended with the Treaty of Fort Jackson, where the Creek Nation lost a lot of land.
• The Seminole Wars (First: 1817–18; Second: 1835–42; Third: 1855–58) were fought in Florida between the United States and the Seminole people. Many Seminoles were forced to move to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma), though some remained in the Everglades.
• The Black Hawk War (1832) in Illinois and Wisconsin involved the Sauk and Fox tribes, led by Black Hawk, trying to return to their ancestral lands. They were defeated, leading to more land being taken by the United States.
• The Comanche Wars (1836–75) and Apache Wars (1849–1924) were long-running conflicts in Texas and the Southwest. These wars involved many different Apache and Comanche bands fighting against American and Mexican forces. They were often about control of land and resources.
• The Sioux Wars (1854–91) were a series of major conflicts in the Great Plains, involving the United States and various Sioux (Lakota and Dakota) tribes, along with their Cheyenne and Arapaho allies.

* Red Cloud's War (1866–68) was a successful fight by the Lakota, led by Red Cloud, to stop the U.S. Army from building forts on their land. It resulted in the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868), which recognized Native American control over the Powder River Country and created the Great Sioux Reservation. * The Great Sioux War of 1876 (1876–77) included famous battles like the Battle of Little Bighorn. Despite Native American victories in some battles, the war ultimately led to the U.S. gaining control of the Powder River Country and the Black Hills.

• The Nez Perce War (1877) was a dramatic attempt by the Nez Perce tribe, led by Chief Joseph, to escape to Canada after being forced off their land. They traveled over 1,000 miles before being captured.
• The Ghost Dance War (1890–91) was the final major conflict of the Sioux Wars. It ended with the tragic Wounded Knee Massacre, where many unarmed Lakota men, women, and children were killed by U.S. soldiers. This event is often seen as the end of the major armed conflicts of the American Indian Wars.

Last Conflicts: The 1900s

By the early 1900s, most Native American tribes had been forced onto reservations. However, a few smaller conflicts still occurred.

• The Crazy Snake Rebellion (1909) involved Creek people in Oklahoma resisting government policies.
• The Bluff War (1914–15) and Posey War (1923) in Utah were among the last armed conflicts between the U.S. government and Native American groups, mainly the Ute and Paiute people. These wars were often about land and the difficult conditions on reservations.

The Apache Wars officially ended in 1924, marking the end of the long period of armed conflicts between the United States and Native American peoples.

See also

• List of historical Indian reservations in the United States
• List of Indian massacres
• List of traditional territories of the indigenous peoples of North America
• U.S.–Native American treaties
• Population history of indigenous peoples of the Americas
• Territorial evolution of the United States
• Territorial evolution of Canada
• Numbered Treaties