Long knives facts for kids

The term "Long knives" was a special name used by some Native American groups. These included the Iroquois and Mingo peoples. They lived in a region called the Ohio Country. This name was used to describe white settlers who came from Virginia. It helped tell them apart from settlers who came from New York or Pennsylvania.

What Does "Long Knives" Mean?

The name "Long knives" is a direct translation of an Iroquois word. This word was Assarigoe. It means "cutlass" in the Onondaga language, which is spoken by the Onondaga people, one of the Iroquois nations.

How the Name Was Chosen

The Iroquois first used the name Assarigoe in 1684. They gave it to Governor Lord Howard of Virginia. The name was chosen as a clever play on words. Lord Howard's name sounded like the Dutch word hower. This word also meant "cutlass."

This was similar to how the Iroquois chose the name Onas for the governors of Pennsylvania. Onas meant "quill pen." This name started with William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania. The Iroquois themselves explained this meaning to Governor Spotswood in 1722.

Who Were the "Long Knives"?

The term "Long knives" mainly referred to people from Virginia. These were often soldiers or settlers.

Famous Use of the Term

In 1778, a famous American soldier named George Rogers Clark used this term. He spoke to Native American groups after capturing the Illinois territory. He referred to himself and his men as "Big Knives" or Virginians.

Later, during the American Revolutionary War, the term became more general. It was used to describe all "Americans." This continued into the War of 1812.