Northwest Territory American Indian Wars
1763-1795
Ohio and Indiana Colonies — versus — Northwest Territory Indians
Iroquois (Beaver) War — 1603-92 Pontiac's Rebellion — 1763-66 Lord Dunmore's War — 1774 Revolutionary War - Western — 1777-82 Northwest Indian War — 1785-95 Tecumseh's War — 1811-13
Black Hawk War — 1832
The population of Indians in the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley region was greatly affected by the Iroquios-Algonquin "Beaver Wars" of the 17th century. The tribal affiliations below show the major tribes in the region but do not reflect the movement of tribes throughout the 17th century.
- Eastern Pennsylvania, Ohio: Shawnee, Miami, Ottawa, Huron, Mingo
- Michigan: Sauk (Sac), Miami, Huron, Ottawa
- Indiana: Miami, Shawnee
- Illinois: Illini, Chickasaw, Sauk, Huron
- Iowa/Minnesota: Dakota, Illini, Iowa
- Kentucky: Shawnee, Chickasaw
Iroquois War : 1603-1692
The Iroquois War was an ongoing, long term war between the Iroquois alliance in New York and the Algonquin tribes of the Great Lakes region. The Iroquois were originally trading allies of the Dutch and they sought to control the fur trade in the great lake regions, which was first exploited by the French settlers along the St. Lawrence seaway. The Algonquin's and Iroquois were already long term enemies and the war was brutal and severely depopulated much of the territory between the Great Lakes and the Ohio river.
The Iroquois War was conducted almost entirely between Indian tribes, and its history was recorded primarily by the Jesuit missionaries in the region, many of whom were martyred as a result of their efforts.
| Founded French colonies in the St. Lawrence seaway and great lake region. Father of 'New France.' | |
| Heroic Jesuit missionary to Indians. Tortured by the Indians, but returned to preach the gospel. | |
| Governor of New France from 1672 to 1698. Expanded fur trade, and fought with British. |
| Piskaret the Adirondack Champion in | Boy's Book of Indian Warriors by Edwin L. Sabin |
| Piskaret brought Peace to the Forests in | Boy's Book of Indian Warriors by Edwin L. Sabin |
Pontiac's Rebellion : 1763-1766 (Great Lakes)
Pontiac's Rebellion broke out in 1763, soon after the British took control what had formerly been French territories in the great lakes region. Many tribes in the region preferred the administration of their former allies, the French, to that of the British, their former enemies.
Important Battles
Fort Detroit,
Battle of Bushy Run
| Leader of a Great Lakes tribe who planned a rebellion. His attempt to take fort Detroit was thwarted by an Indian who warned the garrison. | |
| British officer during the French-Indian Wars who became governor of British Quebec. |
| The Great Conspiracy in | Conquest of the Old Northwest by James Baldwin |
| Grandmother Bear in | Stories of American Life and Adventure by Edward Eggleston |
| Pontiac in | Four American Indians by Frances M. Perry |
| Bloody Belt of Pontiac in | Boy's Book of Indian Warriors by Edwin L. Sabin |
| How an Indian Girl Saved Fort Detroit in | Boy's Book of Indian Warriors by Edwin L. Sabin |
Lord Dunmore's War : 1774 (West Virginia)
Lord Dunmore's War was the first organized Virginia militia to confront the Indians of the Ohio Valley, in support of settlers who had settled in the far West of Virginia. After a quick victory at Point Pleasant, some Indian tribes in the region gave up rights to their land south of the Ohio river, but this was not well received. The Indians in the region, therefore, soon made an alliance with the British so they could fight the settlers in the region during the American Revolutionary War. Another effect of Lord Dunmore's War was that the treaty signed by Cornstalk, the Shawnee leader ceded the territory of Kentucky to the Virginians, so Danial Boone, who was a long time explorer of the region, could found a settlement at Boonesborough.
Important Battles: Battle of Point Pleasant
| Indian leader who tried to be neutral during the Revolutionary War, but was murdered. | |
| Indian chief who was friendly to white settlers until his family was killed. He then warred against the U.S. | |
| Colonial Governor of Virginia who fought Indians in the west, and put down a rebellion at Norfolk. |
| Indians Join Britain against the Colonies in | Indian History for Young Folks by Francis S. Drake |
| Logan the Great Mingo in | Boy's Book of Indian Warriors by Edwin L. Sabin |
| Cornstalk Leads the Warriors in | Boy's Book of Indian Warriors by Edwin L. Sabin |
Western Theatre : 1777-1782 (West Virginia, Kentucky)
The treaty signed by Cornstalk which ceded territories in West Virginia and Kentucky to Virginia was deeply unpopular with the tribes of the Ohio Valley. As soon as the colonies declared independence, the Shawnees made an alliance with Britain, and began to attack forts and settlements in the Ohio Valley, especially those in Kentucky. Several Indian attacks on colonial forts and settlements in the west occurred even after fighting had ceased on the Eastern front.
Important Battles:
Siege of Boonesborough
Siege of Bryant's Stations
Battle of Blue Licks
Siege of Fort Henry
| Explored the Kentucky and Tennessee Valley. Opened a road for settlers through Cumberland Gap. | |
| Controversial frontiersman who allied himself with the British and Indians against the American colonists. Accused of torture of white captives while living with Indians. | |
| As Fort Henry was besieged by Indians, Elizabeth risked her life to leave the barricade and carry back gunpowder from her father cabin. | |
| Mohawk leader allied with the British during the Revolutionary War | |
| Shawnee chief who led the siege of Boonesborough |
Northwest Indian War : 1785-1795
The Northwest Indian War (Also Known as Little Turtle's War), was fought in order to establish rights for white pioneers to settle territory in Ohio. The United States won control of the region from the British after the War of Independence, but the policies of the British had been to prevent colonial settlement and protect the rights of the Indians, their allies and fur-trading partners. The first American militias that were sent to the area were ill-trained and fared poorly. It was not until Anthony Wayne, a revolutionary war hero, took over command of the effort, that an American victory was secured, and the region open for colonial development.
Important Battles:
Harmar Campaign
Battle of the Wabash
Battle of Fallen Timbers
| Led an expedition up the Missouri River, map-making, gathering information, and looking for a passage to the Pacific Ocean. | |
| Indian chief from the Ohio Valley who first fought against the U.S. but later counseled Peace. | |
| Bold and popular Revolutionary War Hero. Well known for victory at Stony Point. | |
| First leader of an American expedition against Indians of the Northwest Territory. Replaced after unsuccessful campaign. | |
| Revolutionary officer who led a disasterous expedition against the Shawnee Indians of the Northwest Territories. | |
| Shawnee chief who led the Shawnee's to a great victory over St. Clair's militia at the Battle of the Wabash |
Tecumseh's War : 1811-1813
After the Shawnees suffered a defeat at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, they were forced to cede Ohio to American settlers and withdraw eastward to Indiana. Twenty years later, however, white settlers were again encroaching on Indian territory, and Tecumseh, a well respected Shawnee leader, arose to unite the Indians. When the United States declared war on Britain, Tecumseh allied himself with British Canadians against the American colonists, just as his forefathers had done in the Revolutionary war. Because of this, Tecumseh's War is considered part of the War of 1812, but its purpose was to protect Indian lands from American encroachment.
Important Battles: Tippecanoe
Fort Detroit
Battle of Frenchtown (Raison River Massacre)
Battle of the Thames
| Shawnee Hero. Tried to unify tribes against the colonists. Fought for Britain during War of 1812. | |
| Brother of Tecumseh, also known as Tenskwatawa, who led the Shawnees at the Battle of Tippecanoe. | |
| War hero of Tippecanoe and the War of 1812, and briefly, President of the United States. | |
| Commander of Canadian forces during the War of 1812. Won early victories, but killed at Queenston Heights. | |
| Ineffective British general during the War of 1812, who who proved unable to control his Indian allies. |
| Tecumseh and the War of 1812 in | Indian History for Young Folks by Francis S. Drake |
| Tecumseh in | America First—100 Stories from Our History by Lawton B. Evans |
| Madison—The Shooting Star and the Prophet in | This Country of Ours by H. E. Marshall |
| Harrison—The Hero of Tippecanoe in | This Country of Ours by H. E. Marshall |
| Tecumseh in | Four American Indians by Frances M. Perry |
| Tippecanoe and Tyler Too in | American History Stories, Volume III by Mara L. Pratt |
| Tippecanoe in | Boys' Book of Border Battles by Edwin L. Sabin |
| Voice from the Open Door in | Boy's Book of Indian Warriors by Edwin L. Sabin |
| Brigadier General Tecumseh in | Boy's Book of Indian Warriors by Edwin L. Sabin |
Black Hawk War : 1832
The Black Hawk War was the last major Indian uprising in the Northwest Territories. It was fought primarily in Illinois, and was the only incident in which Abraham Lincoln, then residing in Illinois, participated in active combat. Several other Civil War leaders, including Zachary Taylor, and Winfield Scott, also got their first combat experience in the Black Hawk War.
Important Battles:
Indian Creek Massacre
Battle of Wisconsin Heights
Battle of Bad Axe
| Important Indian chief in the Illinois territory. Inspired the Sauks to resist the Americans during the Black Hawk War. | |
| President of the United States during the American Civil War. | |
| Longest serving officer in American history. Served in all major wars between 1812 and the Civil War. | |
| Military leader who served in various Indian Wars and the Mexican-American War. Twelfth U.S. President. |
| Black Hawk War in | Indian History for Young Folks by Francis S. Drake |
| Black-hawk the Sac Patriot in | Boy's Book of Indian Warriors by Edwin L. Sabin |
| Book Links |
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Image Links | ||
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 Going to fight the Iroquois in Indian History for Young Folks |
 First Battle with the Iroquois in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Attack on an Iroquois Fort in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Fortified town of the Onondagas in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Pontiac and the Siege of Detroit in Indian History for Young Folks |
 The Ojibway Maiden disclosing Pontiac's plot in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Map of Detroit and surroundings in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Pontiac and Gladwyn in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Pontiac's attack on the fort in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Old Fort Michilimackinac in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Joseph Brant in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Emigrant's camp attacked in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Defense of the Station at Boonesborough in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Boone at the Blue Licks in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Boone fighting over the dead body of his son in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Burning the prisoners in Indian History for Young Folks |
 The charge of the Dragoons in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Tecumseh in Indian History for Young Folks |
 Tippecanoe battle-ground in 1860 in Indian History for Young Folks |
 St. Clair's Defeat in Story of the Great Republic |
 Battle of Tippecanoe in Story of the Great Republic |
 Pontiac foiled at Detroit in Canada: Peeps at History |
 Indians surprise the English garrison at Fort Machilimackinac in Canada: Peeps at History |
 Battle of Tippecanoe in Four American Indians |
 Bayonets at Tippecanoe in Boys' Book of Border Battles |
 At the Siege of Boonesborough in Frontier Fighters |
 Simon Kenton in Trouble in Frontier Fighters |
 Captain Brady of Pennsylvania in Frontier Fighters |
 Pontiac, the Red Napoleon in Boy's Book of Indian Warriors |
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