Territorial Government and Indian Wars Northwest Studies Summer School

Conflict Begins in Oregon Country When White Settlers first came to the Northwest, most Indians welcomed them. The Indians were very interested in trading for Items like guns, Alcohol, pots, pans, and other metal works that were not available in Oregon Country. The exotic goods were worth it to allow the whites to operate within Indian territory. When the fur trade ended and white settlers started arriving, They began taking any land that they wanted. They neither cared nor asked for permission from the Indians. The settlers also did not bring anything in trade. Indians began to be frustrated with how the white settlers assumed the land was theirs. Indians begin to see the white settlers as taking away their livelihood without anything in exchange.

Indian Removal in the East The removal of Indians in the East began in earnest in 1828 with the Indian Removal Act. The Indian Removal Act required all Indians living in the Eastern United States to be moved to reservations west of the Mississippi. In many cases tribes lost their land and the Indian Removal Act contradicted many Federal Laws. While the Indian Removal Act did not effect the Indians in the Northwest, through trade with tribes in California and the Great Plains, they heard of what was happening to other tribes and this fueled more distrust of the white settlers in the Northwest.

The Whitman’s relationship deteriorates When the Whitman’s began the Waiilatpu mission in Southeastern Washington, they believed they could convert the native Cayuse, Walla Walla, and Umatila Indians. The Indians were very resistant to conversion and refused to give up their own beliefs. The Whitman’s believed that the Indians owed them for giving the goods and medical care. The Indians believed that the goods and care given by the Whitman’s was in exchange for allowing them to build a mission on their land. Eventually the relationship turned sour, beginning when Marcus Whitman returned from the east bringing with him 900 new White pioneers.

The Whitman Massacre The tipping point came in 1847 when a large measles outbreak hit the mission. The epidemic especially hit the Cayuse Indians hard. When the Indians brought their sick to the Mission for treatment, they noticed that the white patients were more likely to recover than the Indians. This is most likely due to the lack of resistance that Indians had to the disease, but still rumors began that the Whitman’s were intentionally killing Indians. On Nov. 29th 1847, two Cayuse warriors attacked the Whitman’s in their home. A total of 14 whites were murdered and 47 women and children were captured and taken hostage by the Cayuse. The Cayuse fled to the Blue mountains with their hostages. A militia of pioneers got together to recover the hostages. Through negotiations the militia was able to gain the release of the 47 hostages. After 2 years of skirmishes called the Cayuse War, the 5 responsible for the massacre were turned over to authorites They were put on trial, found guilty , and hung on June 3, 1850.

The Missionary Response The Spalding’s immediately closed the mission at Lapwai and were escorted by the Nez Perce to Fort Vancouver for their safety. Many of the Protestant missionaries now began exercising much more caution and suspicion with the Indians. The Catholics responded very differently. They continued to work, travel, and live among the Indians. They enjoyed a much better relationship than the protestants. The Protestants actually began to believe that the Catholics were colluding with the Indians to kill protestants. Anti-Catholic sentiment got so bad that during the Yakima Wars, the Catholics actually remained with the Indians rather than stay with the whites.

Political Impact of Whitman Massacre Back East, the news of the Whitman massacre shocked people. This helped push for the creation of the Oregon Territory in 1848. This created a territorial government and the first real American laws to the region. The first capital was at Oregon City, but was moved to Salem in 1851. With the creation of the Oregon Territory it brings the land under the direct jurisdiction of the Federal Government. This allowed the area to hold elections for territorial offices which people could now bring their grievances to. Before disputes were handled within individual communities. The Washington Territory follows suit and is created in 1853

Territorial Government An incorporated territory’s organizational structure is based on its white population. Territory’s with a free white male population under 5000 are first phase territory’s. These territory’s have all aspects of it’s government controlled by congress. A second phase territory would have it’s own territorial government Although Washington did not meet the requirements, congress declared them a second phase territory. Territorial governors were appointed by the president and confirmed by congress. Territorial judicial branches are a series of courts culminating in a supreme court. Justices are appointed by congress Territorial legislatures make the laws for the territory and are elected by territorial residents.

Territorial Government and Indians The creation of territorial governments impacted the relationship between the pioneers and Indians. When the governments were created the Indians realized that the pioneers were never going to leave and it was likely that more were coming. In order to become a state, Washington would have to add several thousand more residents. One way was with the Donation Land Claim Act of 1850. This allowed any white male citizen to claim 320 acres of land for free as long as the occupied the claim for 4 years. Married couples could claim 640acres The problem was the government knew that the Indians would not accept new residents claiming this land. The federal government authorized the territorial governor, Isaac Stevens to open up negotiations with the major Indian tribes. The goal of these negotiations was to convince the Indians to settle on reservations

Reservations and Treaties Stevens first started negotiating with the coastal tribes. Negotiations were easier with the coastal tribes because they required less land. Between 1854 and 1855 he negotiated 5 treaties. These were fairly simple and set fishing and hunting areas. Most coastal tribes did not understand the terms of the treaties. The Indians did not believe they were signing away their lands for life because culturally they did not believe in permanent land ownership but in land use. Most coastal tribes believed they were loaning their land to the whites Also due to the lack of the negotiators not speaking the language, the Indians would not have been able to understand the legal jargon. Whether or not the Indians understood what they were signing the U.S. considered these deals legally binding and permanent. Steven now turned his attention to the Plateau Tribes.

Plateau Tribes Stevens invited many of the Plateau tribes, where he could make multiple treaties, to meet in Walla Walla at what became known as the Walla Walla council in May of 1855. The first treaty was with the Nez Perce. They received 7,694,20 acres in Northeastern Oregon and western Idaho. The tribe received a $200,000 payment plus a $500 annual payment to each chief. The second treaty was signed with the Cayuse, Walla Walla, and Umatilla. They received 512,000 acres in northeastern Oregon along the Umatilla river. They also received $150,000 cash payment plus $500 annual stipend to every tribal chief. The third treaty was wit the 14 tribes of the Yakima nation Their land was reduced to 1.25 million acres from 10 million along the Yakima river. An additional area 36 mile stretch on the Wenatchee river was also included as it was a vital salmon spot. They also received a $200,000 payment plus a $500 annual payment to each chief. While the negotiations were a success, the Indians did not like Steven’s attitude and condescension towards the Indians. Also many of the tribes from the North of Washington did not send representatives or the ones sent did not want to enter into negotiations. Others got lumped in with the Yakima without even knowing it.

The Yakima Wars The feeling of the greater tribe was one of anger after finding out about the treaties. People did not want to leave their land. Many Chiefs talked openly of rebellion. Conflict began when 2 white miners were discovered panning for gold by the Yakima on their lands. The Yakima decided to kill the miners and the Indian agent sent to find out what happened thus beginning the Yakima Wars. The Yakima sought help from many other tribes including ones I Western Washington. There were several battles over the course of nearly two years, but the Wars came to an anti-climatic end when the Yakima returned to their treaty lands and seemed to accept their fate. Stevens was upset that many of the Indians that started the rebellion were never brought to justice as he wanted to send a message to other tribes not mess with the government.

The Spokane War The Spokane were at the Walla Walla council but refused to sign a treaty. They had maintained good relationship with pioneers in their territory and did not take part in the Yakima Wars. Things changed in 1858 when gold miners arrived near Colville. The U.S. sent a small force to protect the miners and the Spokane feared more would come which led to the Battle of Rosalia in 1858. The Army was chased out of the area and humiliated. The Army regrouped and came up with a new strategy which drove the Yakima East into Spokane where they were eventually surrounded. The Army slaughtered over 900 Indian horses and the tribes had no where to go. In the weeks that followed many of the warring tribes surrendered. The Indians accepted their fate and moved onto the reservations. This ended the Indian conflicts in the Washington territory.

Assignment Ch. 7 P. 223 #1-11