Tallapoosas facts for kids
The Tallapoosas were an important group of Native American people. They were part of the Muscogee (also known as Creek) people, specifically a group called the Upper Creeks. Before they were moved from their homes, the Tallapoosas lived along the Tallapoosa River in what is now Alabama.
Sometimes, they were also called the Cadapouches or Canapouches.
Contents
Life in the 1500s
When Spanish explorers first visited in the 1500s, they saw Tallapoosa towns. These towns often had strong wooden walls, called palisades, built around them for protection. Later on, the people stopped building these walls. The Tallapoosas were skilled at making pottery, using a special kind of grit in their clay.
Forming Alliances in the 1600s
In the 1600s, more than 30 towns joined together. These towns were located along the Tallapoosa, Coosa, and Chattahoochee Rivers. They formed a powerful group known as the Muscogee Confederacy. The Tallapoosas were part of this group. They were known as Upper Creeks and often kept to older traditions and ways of life more than other Creek towns.
Challenges in the 1700s
The Tallapoosas were brave warriors. They fought in a big battle called the siege of Pensacola in 1707. They were very good at combining their traditional fighting methods with European weapons. However, the English did not treat them fairly after the battle. They did not give the Tallapoosas enough rewards. The English also did not understand how important the Tallapoosas were for keeping peace in the southeastern part of America.
Because of this, by 1716, the Tallapoosas and other tribes changed their alliances. They decided to side with others and even used what they had learned against English settlements in South Carolina.
The 1800s and Forced Relocation
In the early 1800s, some Tallapoosas joined a group called the "Red Sticks." This group wanted to keep their traditional ways of life. They fought in a battle called the Battle of Holy Ground.
In the summer of 1813, the Red Sticks built new settlements. The Tallapoosas built a new village near a town called Autossee. Other groups also built their own strongholds. The Tallapoosas, along with many other Muscogee people, were later forced to move from their homes. This event is known as Indian removal. They were moved to an area called Indian Territory, which is now part of Oklahoma.
Places Named After the Tallapoosas
Tallapoosa County, Alabama is a county in Alabama. It was named after the Tallapoosa people.
See also
In Spanish: Tallapoosa (tribu) para niños
