Closing the Closing the FrontierFrontier1866-1888

The Frontier WarsThe Frontier Wars

“My people have never first drawn a bow or fired a gun against the whites. There has been trouble on the line between us and my young men have danced the war dance. But it was not begun by us…if the Texans had kept out of my country, there might have been peace. But that which you now say we must live on is too small. The Texans have taken away places where the grass grew the thickest and the timber was the best. The white man has the country which we loved, and we only wish to wander the prairie until we die.” Ten Bears, Comanche leader

Ten BearsComanche leader

A History of ConflictA History of ConflictConflict with Native Americans started as soon as Europeans arrived in North America

Mexico continued to fight Indians over land after gaining independence from Spain

Conflicts continued when Anglos settled in Texas

The Republic of Texas continued to fight Indians for land

A History of ConflictA History of ConflictWhen Texas became a state, the U.S. Army entered the conflict on the frontier

The absence of troops during the Civil War weakened frontier defenses

Indians in West Texas and Mexico attacked settlements on frontier and pushed settlers farther east

Soldiers Defending TexasSoldiers Defending TexasAfter the Civil War, U.S. troops returned to the Texas frontier in 1867

Texans wanted troops to help stop Indian raids – set up forts

Native Americans had several advantages over the soldiers:◦Hit-and-run tactics (strike/escape)◦Better fighters on horseback◦Knew the land in Texas well

Medicine Lodge TreatyMedicine Lodge TreatyAfter years of conflict, tribal leaders met with U.S. government in Kansas in 1867

They signed the Medicine Lodge TreatyA treaty is a formal agreement between two nations

Indians agreed to move to reservations in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma)

Agreed to stop raiding white settlementsThe government would provide the Indians with food and supplies

Medicine Lodge TreatyMedicine Lodge TreatySome Natives believed the treaty would bring peace

Many Comanches and Kiowas opposed treaty and moving to the reservations

They wanted to live on the plains as hunters and raiders – NOT give up their traditional way of life

U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant sent Quakers to the reservations but Quaker peace plan failed

Medicine Lodge TreatyMedicine Lodge Treaty

Salt Creek MassacreSalt Creek MassacreIn 1871, President Grant sent army General William Sherman to Texas

Satanta (Kiowa leader) led 100 warriors to raid a wagon train at Salt Creek

They killed seven teamsters and burned the wagons

This massacre outraged Texans and caused the army to change their policy

No longer just defended the frontier – they moved all Indians onto reservations

Salt Creek MassacreSalt Creek Massacre

SatantaSatantaKiowaKiowaChiefChief

Army LeadershipArmy LeadershipGeneral William Sherman

◦Union hero during the Civil War◦Commanded the Army

General Philip Sheridan◦Directed campaign against Indians

General Ranald Mackenzie◦Led Red River War◦Best Indian fighter in the West

Army LeadershipArmy Leadership

ShermaShermann SheridaSherida

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Native American Native American LeadershipLeadership

Quanah Parker◦Son of a Comanche father and a white mother, Cynthia Ann Parker

◦Comanche warrior and leaderLone Wolf

◦Kiowa leader who did not sign the Medicine Lodge Treaty

◦Opposed settlement on reservations

Quanah Parker – Quanah Parker – ComancheComanche

Lived in two worldsComanches captured his mother, Cynthia Ann Parker, when she was a child

She adopted Indian culture and married a Comanche war chief

In 1860, Texas Rangers killed Quanah’s father and captured Cynthia Ann

Quanah left behind with Comanches and became skilled warrior

Quanah Parker – Quanah Parker – ComancheComanche

In 1875, he surrendered to U.S. cavalryQuanah adapted to white culture and helped other Indians do the same

Quanah became wealthy through ranching and investing

He established many important white friendships, including President Theodore Roosevelt

He died on February 23, 1911 at the age of 66

Quanah Quanah ParkerParker

Frontier WarsFrontier WarsIn 1871, more soldiers and horses arrived to enforce the reservation policy

U.S. troop strategies:◦Attacked Indian villages◦Captured food, blankets and supplies

◦Burned villages and killed horsesArmy tried another tactic to defeat the Native Americans

The BuffaloThe BuffaloThe army destroyed the buffalo – the major food source for Plains Indians

The army nearly drove the buffalo to extinction

Extinction – complete destructionWithout buffalo to hunt, the Plains Indians could NOT support their way of life

The BuffaloThe Buffalo

Adobe WallsAdobe WallsIn 1874, Quanah Parker and Lone Wolf led an attack on a camp of hunters at Adobe Walls

Several Comanches, Kiowas and Cheyennes surrounded the hunters

After 5 days, the Indians had to retreat

This became known as the Battle of Adobe Walls and led to the Red River War

Red River WarRed River WarWar between soldiers and Indians took place in the Panhandle

Texas Rangers joined the fighting led by John B. Jones

Key battle took place at Palo Duro Canyon led by Ranald Mackenzie

Soldiers captured the Indians’ horses and entire winter food supply

Indians’ surrendered and most moved to the reservations

Red River WarRed River WarAdobe Adobe WallsWalls

Palo DuroPalo DuroCanyonCanyon

Red River WarRed River War

Palo Duro CanyonPalo Duro Canyon

Rio Grande CampaignsRio Grande CampaignsIn 1877, the government ordered the Apaches onto a reservation in Arizona

Victorio, Apache chief, and several hundred Apaches left the reservation and led raids across Southwest/Mexico

American and Mexican forces pursued Victorio and his people and they escaped into Mexico

Mexican forces killed him and most of his warriors

Rio Grande CampaignsRio Grande Campaigns

Victorio, Apache Victorio, Apache chiefchief

Buffalo SoldiersBuffalo SoldiersTwo units chasing Apaches were African American troops led by white officers

Called Buffalo Soldiers – a name of respect for courage and strength

Lt. Henry Ossian Flipper was first African American graduate of West Point

He served on the Texas frontier for four years but faced unfair treatment

Dismissed from army in 1882 but granted honorable discharge in 1976

Buffalo SoldiersBuffalo Soldiers

Lt. Henry Ossian Lt. Henry Ossian FlipperFlipper

The War EndsThe War EndsAfter January 1881, Indian resistance in Texas ended

Texas Frontier Wars had a terrible effect on Indians

Many Indians died in battle protecting their tribal lands

Many more died from hunger and diseases, such as small pox and cholera

They lost their traditional way of life on the reservations and most were unhappy

The War EndsThe War EndsVictory in the Frontier Wars opened the entire state of Texas to white settlement

Cattle ranchers moved into West Texas

New railroad lines crossed all parts of the state

Settlers built homes, schools and churches

The Texas frontier had closed

QuizQuiz1. In the Medicine Lodge Treaty, the Indians

agreed to move to reservations in Indian Territory in exchange for …

A. the right to vote in national electionsB. government representationC. food and suppliesD. the right to practice their own religion 2. Who were the Buffalo Soldiers?A. Buffalo hunters sent to destroy the

Indians’ food sourceB. African American troops who fought in

the Frontier WarsC. Vigilante soldiers hired to kill IndiansD. Quakers sent to peacefully run the

reservations