U.S. fearful of French control of New Orleans Jefferson used
diplomacy with threat of war Setup Lewis and Clark to determine
military installments in Louisiana Area Napoleon ends up selling
Louisiana for $15 Million (1803) Needed cash for war against
Britain Could not defend it well without Santo- Dominque or
Florida
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Actually illegal Flora and Fauna Reconnaissance of Spanish
troops/forts Gauging the potential for the fur trade King-Making
Stop intertribal warfare Overall potential of the area
Slide 5
Word got out about the abundance of fur bearing animals Prior
to Lewis and Clarks return Individuals sought to capitalize on the
fur trade potential Manuel Lisa A Spaniard with experience in the
fur trade Set out in 1808 and built Fort Manuel in present-day
Montana First fort by U.S. company Little success due to opposition
of the Blackfeet Too loyal to Canadian companies
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1823 the Arikara killed about a dozen trappers along the
Missouri River Part of the blockade to prevent the Dakota from
getting from arms A month later the U.S. army organized individuals
under Colonel Henry Leavenworth to retaliate 230 soldiers, 750
Dakotas, and 50 trappers They defeated the Arikara 1830s smallpox
almost wiped the Arikara completely out
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In 1824 Secretary of War John C. Calhoun creates this new idea
Selected transitional lands in order to help displaced eastern
Indians Wanted them to continue farming Reduce the financial burden
for the federal government
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Expeditions in 1832 and 1833 Failed to contact and pacify the
southern plains Indians after William Bucknell laid out the Santa
Fe Trail in early 1820s Tried to reduce Indian raids against
trading traffic along the route Dodges third attempt in 1834 also
failed to accomplish much Thirty Cherokee, Delaware, Osage, and
Seneca volunteers served as guides and hunters
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All departed Fort Gibson and made contact with the Comanche and
Wichita but accomplish very little A fever broke out among Dodges
men Many died and the Indians were not impressed The Santa Fe Trail
remained a dangerous trading through the rest of its history
Slide 12
Nathaniel Boone was born in Kentucky in 1781 Youngest son of
legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone Much of his early career
centered around being a surveyor, trapper, hunter and soldier In
1805 opened a salt-making business in Boonville Used road for
traveling and supplies called the Boones Lick Road A Major
thoroughfare in early Missouri Later sold that business for a
career in surveying and helped set up many of Missouris first Roads
Part of first Constitutional Convention in Missouri in 1820
Slide 13
Most famous as a captain in the War of 1812 for the Missouri
Rangers 1833 made captain of the Dragoons, a military regiment from
Oklahoma Played role in surveying land for Creek and Cherokee
Indians in Oklahoma Also looked for salt deposits to exploit
throughout the western territories By 1834, his sons had begun
acquiring land in current location of Ash Grove, Missouri Nathaniel
and his wife Olive moved from their Mansion in Defiance Missouri to
new cabin near present-day Ash Grove in 1837
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House built originally as a double pen log cabin Built
primarily using Ash and Walnut logs Moved there in order to be
closer to the frontier he had so frequently surveyed Later died in
1856 in the same home Would be gone for months on hunting,
fighting, or business trips Olive left to care for farm and
family
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Trail existed from 1821-1880 Eventually replaced by the
railroad system Part of the Big Three trails that were important to
westward travel Oregon and Chisholm the other two Carried goods and
promoted trade between the Spanish provinces Eventually with the
independent Mexican government and U.S. territories Pre- 1821
explorers and mountain men traded with the Spanish provincial
capital illegally Followed along Indian and game trails
Slide 17
In 1821 Mexico gained independence from the Spanish There the
trade barriers were removed William Becknell and four other men set
out from Franklin Missouri to Santa Fe to trade Trip roughly 1,203
miles and took roughly 8 weeks Its first 20 years the trail
averaged 80 wagons and 150 people per year Carried a great deal of
U.S. troops during the Mexican-American war in 1846 Once under U.S.
control, military forts were setup along its route to protect
travelers and control Indian conflicts The Civil War also increased
the number of military operations along the trail
Slide 18
By late 1860s, more than 5,000 wagons traveled the trail each
year Most of the goods traded included burros, furs, gold, horses
and silver Two parts to the trail Northern trail slower but less
dangerous Takes them to Bents Fort Southern trail much quicker but
much more dangerous Deal with water scarce and more hostile Indians
Tried to extend the Old Spanish Trail to Los Angeles but was
defeated due to the Railroad in 1880
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Circle the Wagons Used to defend against Indian raiding Indians
would use bow and arrows and the wagons provided protection
Slide 22
Indian hostility made it too dangerous to trap in the Northern
Rockies using the outpost system Primarily because of the Blackfeet
In 1823 William Ashley moved operations southward and placed an ad
in St. Louis newspaper Offered good money for trapping Called Rocky
Mountain Fur Co.
Slide 23
Trappers moved up river or stream Leave traps for animals and
reverse back down the river Collecting traps as they return Often
these Mountain Men live with Indians Sometimes married women and
picked up a great deal of Indian lifestyle Each summer Ashley came
to a mountain valley with goods and money All Mountain men involved
and had a big party Called a Rendezvous
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Best land route for travel to the Western United States Between
1841-1866 nearly 250,000 to 650,000 people made the trip The
longest of the overland routes used in the westward expansion of
the United States Individuals began taking the trail in 1841 First
large group included 900 immigrants in 1843 Most people began their
journey in Independence, Missouri near the Missouri River The
journey was a severe test of strength and endurance
Slide 26
Distance Trip took nearly six months and followed a winding
2,000 mile trail Often crossed flooded rivers Attacked by Indians
Nearly 10,000 overlanders died between 1835-1855 Only 4% were due
to Indian attacks Most deaths were due to Cholera, Small pox and
Firearm accidents During the summer months the trail was crowded
with wagon trains, army units, missionaries, hunting parties,
traders and sightseeing tours
Slide 27
From St. Louis, emigrants would set out towards a town near
Kansas City in Mid-March Pivotal to maintain enough resources to
survive the trip Included food, clothing and even more importantly
wagon parts Could Cost up to $250-500 ($5,000-10,000 Todays Cost)
Sometimes carried to much food and clothing which bogged down the
wagon Due to the overcrowded wagon most had to walk Many were
barefooted If something from the wagon broke, very difficult to fix
and move forward Most often used Mule or oxen and rarely
horses
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Many bridges were built to help overlanders to cross dangerous
rivers Fee for crossing over the bridge Bridge Fees could net the
operator nearly $65,000/ years in present-day costs Indian tribes
also were known for issuing fees to cross their land Created much
animosity among the travelers
Slide 30
Established the territory of Utah in 1846 Between 1846-1869
nearly 70,000 Mormons traveled westward to Salt Lake City, Utah
Purpose was to maintain religious and cultural identity Started in
Nauvoo, Illinois Had already been kicked out of Missouri years
prior Led by leader Brigham Young Succeeded founder Joseph Smith
who had recently died in Illinois Predominantly followed their own
trail, and only briefly used the Oregon Trail Left in Companies
similar to military marches
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Due to greater number of Americans immigrating across the Great
Plains conflict with Indians increased In response the Federal
Government sought to protect the Indians through Concentration
Slide 34
Treaties established to police the high plains and stop Indian
attacks on the Overlanders First Treaty of Fort Laramie (1851 for
Northern Plains) Treaty of Fort Atkinson (1853 for Southern Plains)
Americans demanded protection from the Indians Most bands refused
to participate in the treaties While claiming authority, minority
bands signed the treaties
Slide 35
Provisions Indians were to stay within lands defined by
specific boundaries Due to the difficult of military to identify
those Indians involved in raiding of overlanders The government
acknowledged Indians rights to the designated lands Yet U.S. could
set up military post along the different trails Both sides agreed
to pay for any damages caused by their citizens Each Indian nation
was to receive $50,000 ($1.4 Million today) and annuities for 50
years Ended up only receiving 15 years of annuities due to Senate
ability to change treaties without Indian knowledge or consent
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Brevit 2 nd Lt. John Grattan at Fort Laramie eager to teach the
Lakota a lesson August 18, 1854 a Mormon cow wandered into a Brule
camp under Conquering Bear Along the Platte River Visiting
Minniconjous High Forehead killed the cow Conquering Bear wouldnt
give up High Forehead Grattan orders to fire canon which kills the
head but no one else Under the Treaty of Fort Laramie the attack
happened within Conquering Bears authority Indians kill all 30
troops
Slide 40
Government eager to open up Kansas and Nebraska for development
Especially for the Railroad As Commissioner of Indian Affairs, he
setup negotiations with various Indian groups Between 1853-1857
they negotiated nearly 52 treaties with mostly village
agriculturalist Indians Indians lose over 15 million acres through
treaties
Slide 41
1854 and 1855 Dakotas raided along the Oregon Trail Including a
stage coach with $10,000 Secretary of War Jefferson Davis sent
William Harney into the field in order to enforce the treaty The
government then called in the friendlies then went after the rest
Indians who supported the treaties and tended to live near the
military forts Harney struggled due to inability to adjust to the
guerilla warfare of the plains
Slide 42
William Harney
Slide 43
Battle of Antelope Hills Not all Comanche recognized the treaty
of Fort Atkinson Nor the distinction between Texas and U.S. and
continued to raid into Texas Daniel Twiggs and troops sent out to
enforce the treaty Texas sends Rangers under the Command of Captain
John Rip Ford On May 1858, Rangers with Tonkawa and Anadarko
Indians found a Comanche encampment 4 whites and 76 Comanche
killed, 18 prisoners and 300 horses captured
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Battle of Rush Springs Comanche hit Choctaw, Chickasaw and
Wichita Indians Some Comanche leaders knew of pending retaliation
so they went to Fort Arbuckle Tried to convince military not to
react Troops under Major Earl Van Dorn in 1858 sent out to enforce
the treaty 6 Whites and 56 Comanche killed More Raiding in response
to military attack
Slide 47
Primarily due to Civil War and its Total War approach Local
militias replaced federal troops throughout Great Plains More
likely to hate Indians than men from the east
Slide 48
Indians hungry due to annuities not being delivered Part of
treaties that Congress changed or cut Young Indians failed to find
small game on over-hunted reservations A few stopped at a farm and
ask for food When denied, they killed several whites and took food
They returned to their reservation and told what happened
Slide 49
Many frustrated with leader Little Crow Had accepted the
reservation treaty Called on him to declare war against the
militias Little Crow reluctantly went along with those calling for
war Local militia eventually put an end to a bloody war Over 300
Indians were sentenced to be hung Lincoln intervened and lowered
the number to 38 Those defeated but not killed fled to live with
other Dakotas Little Crow survived but later killed by farmer for
reward
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Colorado gold rush just before the Civil War Many flooded onto
designated to Cheyenne and Arapaho in the First Treaty of Fort
Laramie The government built the Smokey Hill road to link Americans
in Colorado to the Oregon Trail Indians retaliated with raids
Colorado Territorial Governor John Evans illegally intervened
Created a small reservation on barren land near Fort Lyon Only two
headmen accepted it and encamped there Black Kettle (southern
Cheyenne) and Little Raven (Southern Arapaho)
Slide 55
Major Wynkoop sympathized and fed those who had surrendered
Evans assembled a militia under John Chivington known as the
Hundred Dazers Chivington chased the Indians with little success
With 100 days near an end Wynkoop was chastised by Washington D.C.
for feeding the enemy Chivington then hit the Sand Creek
encampments Devastated the Indians and proudly rode into Denver
displaying Indian parts at the theater
Slide 56
Significance of event Killed 8 of the 44 Council headmen Most
of those killed called for peace with Whites Reinforced with the
Dog Soldier the ineptness of the peace policies Further undermined
tribal authority and structure