Westward Expansion Causes Conflicts

Black Hawk War

Settlers and Natives

• The increasing number of US settlers moving west inevitably affected Native American communities•Most Native Americans tried to maintain strong

cultural traditions, even if they were forced to move from their ancestral lands• Some began to assimilate or become part of white

culture•Others fought hard to keep their land

Background

• In the early 1800s the Sauk and Fox Indians lived along the Mississippi River from northwestern Illinois to southwestern Wisconsin. • The Sauk leader was Black Sparrow Hawk• In 1830, seeking to make way for settlers moving into Illinois,

the United States required the Sauk to move and accept new lands in present-day Iowa.

Conflict In Iowa

•Once they moved to Iowa, they struggled to prepare enough land for their crops• The winter of 1831-1832 was very difficult. • In April, Black Hawk led about 1,000 Sauk and Fox

people back to northern Illinois•Black Hawk hoped to create a military alliance with

the Winnebago and other tribes• Fearing the Sauk, Illinois citizens organized a militia

Surrender?• Noticing the military forces against him, Black Hawk

reconsidered his actions and decided to surrender• An undisciplined militia ignored his peace flag and attacked

the Sauk• The Indians returned their fire• The militia retreated in panic, many even forgetting their

weapons• The Sauk collected the weapons and retreated northward

along the Rock River into Wisconsin • The Black Haw War had official begun

Fighting

• General Henry Atkinson was in charge of the US forces, assisted by 4,000 militia men led by Henry Dodge and James Henry• Sauk forces were traveling with women and children in their

company which made fighting the American difficult• To try to distract American forces, Sauk warriors raided

frontier farms and villages

The War Ends• On August 2, US soldier attacked the Sauk and Fox as they

attempted to ford the Mississippi River• Ignoring a truce flag, the American troops, aboard a

steamboat, fired cannons and rifles, killing hundreds, including many children and women

Effects of War

•Many Natives who made it across the river were slain by the Eastern Sioux, who had formed an alliance with the Americans•Only 150 of the 1,000 member of Black Hawk’s band

survived the war and the Sauk and Fox were forcibly removed to areas west of the Mississippi