Civil War in Indian Territory

Top 5 Causes of the Civil War Economic and Social differences between the North and the South. Fight over states versus federal rights. Fight between slave and free states. Growth of the abolition movement. Abraham Lincoln being elected as President.

Battles in Indian Territory The Battle of Round Mountain: The first battle to occur in Indian Territory. The battle was caused when a group of Native Americans tried to escape Indian Territory because they did not want to be under the control of the Confederates. The battle of Round Mountain was a W for the Confederates. The Battle of Honey Springs: The battle of Honey Springs was the largest battle fought in Indian Territory. The battle was an effort for the Union to take Indian Territory from the Confederates. The battle of Honey Springs was a W for the Union.

Confederate stake in Indian Territory The Confederates looked to occupy the Union territory of Indian Territory. They saw this as a natural alliance because; *Indian Territory had close to if not the same social structure of the South *A lot of the Tribes residing in Indian territory were slave holders themselves. Not only did Indian Territory resemble the South. They also held many resources that the South needed including but not limited to; young and able men to be soldiers, money, food, and military supplies. Why did the Native Americans side with the South? The South made Indian Territory promises that some couldn’t resist. They painted a picture of equal rights, and made the promise that they would never invade their lands with white settlers.

Split in the tribes The Native American tribes were split on their decision on who’s side to take during the civil war. All of the 5 civilized tribes signed a treaty with the Confederates (though many claimed it was under duress after Lee’s army surrendered and the reconstruction effort began. The Cherokee tribe was the most effected by the split decision. John Ross wanted the Cherokee people to remain neutral and Stand Waite wanted the Cherokee to side with the Confederacy. Waite eventually got his way because John Ross claimed that he would rather keep the tribe together than to get his way. Before the Cherokee nation had signed a treaty with the South, Stand Waite and his Cherokee Mounted Riflemen burned Tahlequah, the Cherokee capital to the ground. Waite was the highest ranking Native American in the Confederate Military (he was a brigadier general) and the last Confederate General to surrender.

Reconstruction All tribes paid extremely high prices for their participation in the Civil War. The 5 tribes as a whole had to cede the western half of Indian Territory. Choctaws & Chicksaw: -Were given an option to either relocate their slaves or adopt them into their tribe. -Were only tribes to receive payment for their ceded lands. Cherokee: -Were forced to cede their land -Were forced to adopt their slaves Creeks and Seminoles: -Forced to sign confessions of war guilt. -Seminoles forced to give up all their land and the Creeks were forced to give land to the Seminoles. -forced to make their slaves members of their tribes.