A young ppls history. Ch. 7

Chapter Seven: As Long As Grass Grows or Water Runs

1. Background of Land Speculation

• After the American Revolution, wealthy Americans engaged in land speculation, buying large tracts of frontier land for profit.

• Notable speculators included Founding Fathers like George Washington and Patrick Henry, along with Andrew Jackson.

• Jackson was renowned for his hostility towards American Indians and gained fame during the War of 1812, which served as a conflict for territory as well as survival.

2. The War of 1812 and Territorial Expansion

• The war allowed expansion into Canada, Florida, and Indian territories.

• Jackson’s initial conflicts were against the Creek Indians, with notable events including:

  • A Creek massacre of 250 white individuals, leading to Jackson's retaliation by burning a Creek village with civilian casualties.

  • Battle of Horseshoe Bend (1814), a decisive victory for Jackson against the Creek, aided by Cherokee allies who were promised favorable treatment.

3. Treaties and Land Control

• Post-war, Jackson and associates began acquiring Creek lands, crafting treaties that undermined Indigenous land concepts:

  • Native Americans had a communal view of land, countered by Jackson’s treaties establishing individual land ownership.

  • The treaties led to divisions among tribes, often bribing some members against others.

4. Expansion and the Cotton Kingdom

• Jackson's actions contributed to the establishment of the cotton kingdom in the South, through the acquisition of vast lands including:

  • Significant portions of Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and additional territories.

• The reach of white settlement extended to Spanish Florida, leading to conflicts with Seminole Indians, which involved invasions and territorial claims.

5. Jackson’s Presidency and Indian Removal

• Jackson's presidency initiated the removal of around seventy thousand American Indians from their lands east of the Mississippi.

• Influential figures like Lewis Cass justified removal by labeling Native Americans as "savages" not fit for coexistence with civilization.

• Officially promised lands west of the Mississippi were misrepresented, creating further distrust in treaties.

6. The Pressure and Consequences of Removal

• Although early interactions between whites and Native Americans were peaceful, increasing demands for land led to their removal:

  • Jurisdictional conflicts between federal treaty obligations and state laws undermined Native American land rights.

  • Many tribes, pressured by treaties and state encroachments, ultimately agreed to relocate under false promises of protection.

7. Choctaw and Creek Removal

• The Choctaw faced severe hardships during their migration westward, with thousands dying from poor planning.

• The Creek nation faced similar challenges as pressure intensified, leading to forced migrations and a violation of promises from the federal government regarding land protection.

8. The Trail of Tears

• By October 1838, the mass removal of the Cherokee under the Trail of Tears resulted in significant loss of life due to neglect, starvation, and disease during the journey.

• Despite the government’s claims of successful removal, the reality was marked by tragedy and suffering.

9. Native American Enslavement

• Beyond land losses, Native Americans were subjected to slavery, especially in the Caribbean and parts of Mexico, with varying practices that included:

  • More emphasis on women and children for labor compared to African enslavement practices.

• Historical records suggest that between 2.5 and 5 million Native individuals were enslaved from Columbus's arrival until 1900, with significant numbers in North America, despite the legal ambiguities surrounding their status.