Creek Indian Civilization and Creek Indian Wars

Creek Lands

Background Information on the Creeks

• Also know as the Muscogee• Name came from the shortening of the “Ocheese

Creek” (Ocmulgee River)• Union of several tribes confederacy• Member tribes called tribal towns political

autonomyGeographic DivisionsUpper Creeks- Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers - traditional way of lifeLower Creeks-Chattahoocee and Flint Rivers -more intermarriage with the whites

- huge impact on political and social order

Town Make UpItalwa- large permanent

townsTalofa- smaller outlying

villages (associated with larger town)

Pascova- plazas (open areas) 1. Used for dancing,

religious ceremonies and games 2. Location of town councils 3. Surrounding the pascova were the homes of the Indians.

Creek Indian Towns

•400-600 people in the town, town would split, with about half moving to a nearby site

•The new towns would have a “mother-daughter” relationship with the original town (how confederacies were formed)

•Matrilineal society- mother is the main authority in the family

Creek Indian Wars

Oconee War

•During the late 1700’s, white settlers began to push into Creek lands, bad feelings started to arise along the Oconee River.

-White settlers began to shoot Creeks on site

•Creek Chief that intervened and supported the Creeks in their effort to keep the land was Alexander McGillivray

Alexander McGillivray• 1750-1793• Creek Indian Chief• Grew up in Creek and white

society (mom was Creek, dad was white)

• Initiated reforms within the Creek society

-created centralized power in Creek nation

• Used trade to increase his own position on the Southern frontier.

• Used European influence to protect Creek interests

- Treaty of New York (1790)

The Treaty of New York (1790)McGuillivray met with

George Washington to discuss a peace negotiation over the Oconee Wars

What did it do?1. Creeks gave up land

east of the Oconee River2. U.S. promised no

settlers West of the Oconee River

*Both sides ignored the treaty*

Georgia’s War of 1812(Creek Indian Civil War)

Red Stick Creeks (warring Creeks) vs. White Stick Creeks (peaceful Creeks)

Fort Mims MassacreBattle of Horseshoe Bend

The Fort Mims Massacre (1813)

• 1000 Red Sticks attacked Fort Mims (Alabama) killing 400-500 settlers , army officers, and White Sticks

• The Red Sticks’ victory spread panic throughout the Southeastern United States frontier

• Made the Creek Civil War a war between the United States and the Red Stick warriors of the Upper Creek Nation. (Why is this?)

The Battle of Horseshoe Bend (1814)• Located on the Tallapoosa

River• Jackson, with the help of

Lower Creek and Cherokee Indians as well as his own forces gained control of the barricade and slaughtered the Red Creek Indians that were there

Video: http://www.pbs.org/kcet/andrewjackson/video/

Battle of Horseshoe Bend’s Significance

1. Upper Creek power was broken2. Creek Civil War came to a close3. Creeks were forced to give up more

than 23 million acres of their homeland and move farther west

4. The land taken from them was good for growing cotton which helped to further the need for slavery-antebellum period

5. Andrew Jackson became a legend

The Monroe Doctrine (1823)

1. The Western Hemisphere was off limits to further colonization

2. The United States would not be involved in internal European affairs

* ISOLATIONISM*-not interfering in other countries affairs.*

James Monroe (5th president)

Why the Need for the Monroe Doctrine?• In the early 1800’s, a number of colonies in

Latin America gained independence from their European controllers.

•United States President James Monroe believed that by making connections with the new nations, both the political and economic influence of the U.S. would increase. (Spheres of Influence) (This relates to what theory we learned about last unit?)

•Wars in Europe- Monroe did not want to get the United States involved in these matters

1. What things stick out to you in this picture?

2. Who do you think each person in the cartoon represents?

3. What do you feel the cartoon is attempting to say to the viewer?

4. Does this political cartoon represent the Monroe Doctrine? Why or why not?

Analyzing Political Cartoons- The Monroe Doctrine

1. What is happening in the cartoon?2. Who does the figure in the foreground represent?3. Who are the figures in the background? See if you can read the names of nations.4. What is the message of the cartoon?

1. Describe what is happening in this cartoon.2. Who is the figure on the right?3. Who are the two figures on the left?4. What is the figure on the right pointing to?5. What is the message of the cartoon?

Cartoon #1 Answers1. A rooster is guarding a chicken coop by marching back and forth in front of it.2. The United States3. European nations, Italy, Germany, England, France.4. The U.S. has locked up the European nations with the Monroe Doctrine, whichstates that the Western Hemisphere is off limits to European settlement.

Cartoon #2 Answers1. A man is stopping two men from crossing a line.2. Uncle Sam, representing the U.S.3. Great Britain and Germany.4. The line which says “Monroe Doctrine”.5. European nations need to stay behind the line of the Monroe Doctrine whichblocks their entry into Latin America.

ReferencesSlide 2: http://www.aaanativearts.com/georgia-tribes-map.jpghttp://www.perdidobaytribe.org/creek_village.jpgSlide 7:http://images.encyclopedia.com/getimage.aspx?id=2800059&hero=yesSlide 8:http://www.n-georgia.com/images/oconee-

river-map.jpg

Slide 2: http://www.aaanativearts.com/georgia-tribes-map.jpghttp://www.perdidobaytribe.org/creek_village.jpgSlide 7:http://images.encyclopedia.com/getimage.aspx?id=2800059&hero=yesSlide 8:

References- Horseshoe Bend

•http://www.pbs.org/kcet/andrewjackson/video/

•http://www.reisenett.no/map_collection/National_parks/Horseshoe_Bend_map.jpg

•http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/54horseshoe/54images/54cover.jpg

•http://www.nps.gov/history/nR/publications/bulletins/nrb40/bat7.jpg

References- Monroe Doctrine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_Doctrinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jamesmonroe-npgallery.jpghttp://wiserblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/monroe_doctrine.jpgPolitical Cartoons:http://multimedialearningllc.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/monroe-doctrine-cartoons.pdf

CREEK INDIAN

TREATIES AND THE INDIAN

REMOVAL ACT

REVIEW OF YESTERDAY

Creek Indian society background - composition of the Creek society - Creek Indian towns Creek Indian Wars - Oconee War - Alexander McGillivray - Treaty of New York (1790) Creek Indian Civil War -Fort Mims Massacre -Significance - Battle of Horseshoe Bend - Significance The Monroe Doctrine

CREEK INDIAN “GLASS”

TREATIES

THE TREATY OF INDIAN SPRINGS (1825)

William McIntosh Lower Creek chief “White Warrior” Mother was Creek

and father was white Supported the U.S.’s

attempts to gain Indian land

Well connected in the government of Georgia (many relatives were high officials)

THE TREATY OF INDIAN SPRING (1825)

George Troup Cousin of

William McIntosh Governor of

Georgia during this treaty

Aggressive policy towards Indian removal

THE TREATY OF INDIAN SPRINGS (1825)

Chief William McIntosh and Governor George Troup (cousins) arranged to have Creek lands given to GA

Sold all of the remaining Creek land (southwest Georgia)

Many Creeks were unhappy with the selling of the land

McIntosh was murdered in his home in Carroll County.

THE TREATY OF WASHINGTON (1826)

Nullified the “false” Treaty of Indian Springs

Gave all Creek land on the east of the Chattahoochee River to the United States

Treaty was broken almost immediately (frontiersmen burned and looted Indian homes)

The army intervened and aided the removal to Oklahoma

The end of Creeks in Georgia

FACTORS THAT LED TO THE

TRAIL OF TEARS

THE DAHLONEGA GOLD RUSH 1828 Almost 20 years before

the California Gold Rush (1849)

Gold found by Benjamin Parks

Land owned by the Cherokee

Auraria- first gold mining center in the United States.

Push to forced Cherokee off that land

ANDREW JACKSON Elected in 1828 Very proud man (often

got into fights in order to defend his honor)

War hero “Represented the

common man” Thought of the Indians

as “…children in need of guidance.”

Known for his involvement in Indian Removal

http://www.history.com/video.do?name=americanhistory&bcpid=1676043206&bclid=1716449817&bctid=1534506111

Andrew Jackson 7th President

THE INDIAN REMOVAL ACT (1830)

Authorized Jackson to transfer Indian tribes east of the Mississippi River to the western territories (Oklahoma) promised to them

5 GroupsCherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and

Seminole The removal was supposed to be voluntary

and peaceful, and it was that way for the tribes that agreed to the conditions

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/18023-america-under-andrew-jackson-the-indian-removal-act-video.htm

KEY INDIVIDUALS AND EVENTS PRIOR

TO THE TRAIL OF TEARS

MISSIONARIES TO GEORGIA SAMUEL WORCESTER AND ELIZUR

BUTLERSamuel Worcester

Preacher to the Cherokees

Known as “The Messenger”

Good friends with Elias Boudinot

- Developed the Cherokee Phoenix newspaper with Boudinot

Sought to use the Cherokee Phoenix to promote a Cherokee Nation

Elizur Butler

Preacher and physician to the Creek Indians

Involved in the Hawais mission

1830- Georgia passed a law stating that any white person could not live on Indian land without taking an “oath of allegiance”

*Worcester and Butler were arrested for failing to take the oath*

WORESTER VS. GEORGIA (1832)

The arrests of Worcester and Butler were the basis for this case

Georgia ignored the Supreme Court’s decision

President Jackson did not support the ruling either, and pressed for the Cherokees to remove themselves from the land

“John Marshall has rendered his decision; now let him enforce it!” –Jackson

Chief Justice John Marshall

REFERENCES Gold Rush Slide:

http://web03.bestplaces.net/city/Dahlonega_GA.gif

http://www.us-coin-values-advisor.com/images/Half-Eagle-1838-D.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Lake/4713/bparksjr.jpg

REFERENCES Jackson slide:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Andrew_Jackson.jpg

http://www.history.com/video.do?name=americanhistory&bcpid=1676043206&bclid=1716449817&bctid=1534506111

Worcester picture: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4e/Worcester.jpg/225px-Worcester.jpg

Marshall picture: http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Multimedia.jsp?id=m-7687

Cherokee Indian Society and the Trail of Tears

Cherokee Indian Society•Matrilineal Society•Confederacy of States made up the nation•The Cherokee settlements looked very much like a ‘fort’ or ‘town’ with several ‘log cabins’, small gardens, fruit trees, and a central ‘long house’ on a raised mound for gatherings and decision making.  •The Long House, or Council House, was also used for religious functions, such as weddings and festivals. •1800s- began to adopt white culture - Government - Dress - Home building techniques - Farming techniques

Hothouses- dome shaped houses (winter houses)

1. Large Scale Farming A. Adopted European methods of growing crops B. Used modern equipment2. Americanized Education A. Young Cherokee sent to eastern boarding schools B. Learned English and many other common subjects3. Adopted Christianity A. Missionaries

4. Written Constitution A. 1827 B. Declared their status as a sovereign nation

5. Written language and newspaper A. Cherokee syllabary B. Only Indian tribe with a written language C. 1828- Cherokee Phoenix published

Cherokee Attempts to Co-Exist with Settlers

QuestionWhen you get home from school today, the

authorities tell you and your family that you have to leave your home immediately. The reason you have to leave is because the government wants your home. You can take nothing but the clothes you have on your back.

Question:How would this make you feel?Do you think this would be a just reason in

forcing you to leave your home? Why or why not?

The Trail of Tears1838-1839

Chief John Ross First and only elected Chief of

the Cherokee Nation Fought against Indian

removal Helped to organize the

Cherokee nation - Wrote Constitution - Election of a Principal

Chief Protested to the national

government selling Cherokee lands in the 1832 land lottery-won but was not enforced

Protested the Treaty of New Echota but was ignored by Jackson

Cherokees refused to leave their homes when the Indian Removal Act was signed

A select group of Cherokees (Major and John Ridge, Elias Boudinot and Stand Watie (Ridge’s nephews)) signed the Treaty of New Echota

The treaty exchanged the title to all Cherokee lands east of the Mississippi for $5 million and a large piece of land in Oklahoma.

PROBLEM: There were only a select few that signed the treaty, not the majority of the Cherokee death warrant

Ridge and his followers left (2000) 15000 stayed Trail of Tears

The Treaty of New Echota (1835)

Treaty of New Echota Traitors

Major Ridge

John Ridge

Elias Boudinot

Stand Watie

The Trail of Tears General Winfield Scott ordered

to remove the remaining 15,000 Cherokee

Placed in stockades where hundreds died of illness (internment camps)

Two routes taken1. Crowded boats using a river

passage2. 800 mile walk to new Indian

territory - Food was scare - Starvation and illnessEmigrated-move out or away fromANuna-da-ut-sun’y- “The trail

where they cried”

http://www.evgschool.org/south_unlabeled_small1.gif

Trail of Tears Map

http://video.pbs.org/video/1101800846/Start at 15 and let it run

Trail of Tears Movie

“I fought through the Civil War and have seen men shot to pieces and slaughtered by thousands, but the Cherokee removal was the cruelest work I ever knew.” – Georgia militiaman who participated in the “roundup” of the Cherokee Indians

Samuel’s Memory1. Describe their experience (What happened to

him and his family)2. How did they feel?Cherokee Indian legend of the Cherokee Rose

Trail of Tears Quotes and Primary Experiences

Write 5-7 sentences answering the question below

1. Do you think the United States was justified in removing the Creek and Cherokee Indians? Why or why not?

In your answer think about the societies of each tribe..were they peaceful/warrior, did they adopt white culture, etc.

You must have 3 supporting ideas from your notes in this essay (Maps, documents, treaties, white/Indian conflicts, Trail of Tears, etc.)

If it helps, write your essay from the point of view of either an Indian, or a white settler.

Essay Question

Cherokee Society: http://www.cherokeebyblood.com/housing.htm

http://traveldaysinn.com/images/poi/NCcherokee.jpgMap of Cherokee Lands:

http://www.cherokeehistory.com/cne1838.gifTrail of Tears Picture:

http://www-tc.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/images/4tear44b.jpg

John Ross: http://www.sitemason.com/files/k2NvTG/johnross.jpg

Winfield Scott: http://ngeorgia.com/images/wscott.jpgCherokee Rose:

http://www.theflowerexpert.com/media/images/aboutflowers/stateflowers/georgiastateflowers/georgia-state-flower.jpg

References

Traitor slide:http://www.artexpertswebsite.com/pages/artists/artists_a-k/king/King_MajorRidge.jpghttp://www.paulridenour.com/JohnRidgePic.jpghttp://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/B/images/BO025.jpghttp://digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/v010/images/v010p540photo.jpg

References