Andrew Jackson: The 7th president of the United States dealt a huge blow to Indian rights when he disregarded the findings of the Supreme Court and sent the Cherokee Indians to walk the Trail of Tears. Some minor chiefs had previously signed the Treaty of New Echota which ceded all Cherokee lands against the wishes of the majority. Using this, Jackson forcibly removed all Cherokee Indians to lands in the West. He additionally pushed for the Indian Removal Act, which allowed the government to exchange lands in the East for lands in the West. These trades were often of unequal quantities and detrimental to the Native Americans forced to undergo them.
Tecumseh: Tecumseh was the driving force of Native American involvement in the War of 1812, and built a considerable network of alliances with over two dozen nations, each speaking different languages and with different customs. He then brought the full force of these nations to the support of the British, who he hoped would be able to stop the encroachment on native lands that had been occurring since American Independence. After his death at the Battle of Thames, Native American resistance broke down, which shows just how important Tecumseh was as a leader during this time. |
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Geronimo: Geronimo is representative of many Native American leaders going into the late 19th century who continued militant resistance and raids, especially in the Southwest. His surrender at Skeleton Canyon marked the end of guerilla war by the Apaches and along with the end of the Red River War, led to the end of Native American independence in the South.
Wovoka: As the situation of the Indian tribes became increasingly desperate, they turned to more radical leaders for solutions. In the late 1880s, a prophet named Wovoka promised a return of dominance for the Sioux if they listened to him and performed the Ghost Dance, spinning in a circle until they fell into trances and saw visions. The success of this movement is significant because it shows the willingness of the Sioux to grasp at anything. John Collier: John Collier was the Commissioner for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the early 20th century and tried to reverse some of the effects of the Dawes Severalty Act. He formed the American Indian Defense Association to try to preserve traditional Native American life and advocated expanding reservations and requiring Native languages and crafts to be taught in schools. The Indian Reorganization Act did pave the way for tribes to regain title to their lands and stopped sale of tribal lands to some degree. However, ultimately the US government chose to move towards assimilation and the efforts of Collier were subverted. |