List of American Indian Wars

Last updated

The American Indian Wars were numerous armed conflicts fought by governments and colonists of European descent, and later by the United States federal government and American settlers, against various indigenous peoples within the territory that is now the United States. These conflicts occurred from the 16th century to the 20th century and in all parts of the country, beginning with the Tiguex War in 1540 in present-day New Mexico and ending with the Renegade period of the Apache Wars in 1924 in the Southwestern United States.

Contents

According to a dataset of conflicts between Native American communities and colonial powers, the frequency of conflict increased dramatically in Mexico and the United States during the second half of the 19th century, as contact between the two groups became more frequent. [1]

16th century wars

ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2Result
Battle of Mabila
(Oct 1540)
Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto Mississippian Culture Death of chief Tuskaloosa, over 2,500 Indians and 200 Spaniards
Tiguex War
(winter 154041)
Spanish conquistador Puebloan
Mixtón War
(1540-1542)
New Spain
Tlaxcaltec
Caxcanes Assimilation or enslavement of all Caxcan natives, Spanish access to northern silver deposits
Chichimeca War
(1550–90)
New Spain
Tlaxcaltec
Caxcanes
Chichimeca ConfederationChanges to Spanish indigenous policies, pursuit of voluntary conversion instead of forced conversions

17th century wars

ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2Result
Navajo Wars
(c. 16001866)
Royal Banner of the Crown of Castille (Habsburg Style).svg  Crown of Castile
(c. 16001716)
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg  Spain
(17161821)
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
(182148)
Flag of the United States (1848-1851).svg  United States
(184966)
Navajo
Anglo-Powhatan Wars
(161046)
English colonistsPowhatan Confederacy
Pequot War
(163638)
New England blank flag.svg Massachusetts Bay Colony
Plymouth Colony
Saybrook Colony
Red Ensign of Great Britain (1707-1800).svg Connecticut Colony
Mohegan
Narragansett
Pequot
Beaver Wars
(164298)
Flag of the Iroquois Confederacy.svg Iroquois
Flag of England.svg  England
Statenvlag.svg  Dutch Republic
Huron
Erie
Neutral
Odawa
Ojibwe
Mississaugas
Potawatomi
Algonquin
Shawnee
Wenro
Mahican
Innu
Abenaki
Miami
Illinois Confederation
other nations allied with France
Royal Standard of the King of France.svg  France
Kieft's War
(164345)
Statenvlag.svg New Netherland Munsee
Peach War
(1655)
Statenvlag.svg New Netherland Munsee
Esopus Wars
(165963)
Prinsenvlag.svg Dutch settlers
Iroquois Confederacy
Esopus tribe of Lenape Indians
Chowanoc War
(167577)
Red ensign of Great Britain (1707-1800, square canton).svg Province of Carolina Chowanoc
King Philip's War
(167578)
New England pine flag.svg New England Confederation
Mohegan
Pequot
Wampanoag
Nipmuck
Podunk
Narragansett
Nashaway
  • Colonial victory in southern theatre
  • Native victory in northern theatre
King William's War
(168897)
Royal Standard of the King of France.svg  France
Royal Flag of France.svg  New France
  Wabanaki Confederacy
Flag of England.svg  England
New England blank flag.svg Massachusetts Bay Colony
Flag of England.svg English America
Flag of the Iroquois Confederacy.svg Iroquois Confederacy

18th century wars

ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2Result
Queen Anne's War
(170213)
Royal Standard of the King of France.svg  France

Bandera de Espana 1701-1748.svg Spain

Wabanaki Confederacy
Caughnawaga Mohawk
Choctaw
Timucua
Apalachee
Natchez

Flag of England.svg  England (until 1707) [2]

Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg  Great Britain (from 1707) [2]

Muscogee (Creek)
Chickasaw
Yamasee

Tuscarora War
(171115)
  • Power of Tuscaroras broken
  • Tuscaroras retreat from the coast
  • Southern Tuscaroras migrate to New York
Fox Wars
(171233)
Royal Standard of the King of France.svg France Fox
  • Meskwaki (Red Earth People)
  • Renards
  • Outagamis
Yamasee War
(171517)
Colonial militia of:
  • South Carolina
  • North Carolina
  • Virginia

Catawba (from 1715)
Cherokee (from 1716)

Yamasee
Ochese Creeks
Catawba (until 1715)
Cherokee (until 1716)
Waxhaw
Santee
  • Power of the Yamasee was broken
  • South Carolina colonists establish uncontested control of the coast
  • The Catawba become the dominant tribe in the interior
Chickasaw Wars
(172163)
Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg  Great Britain
Chickasaw
Royal Standard of the King of France.svg  France
Choctaw
Illini
Dummer's War
(172225)
New England combo flag.svg New England Colonies
Mohawk
Wabanaki Confederacy
Abenaki
Pequawket
Mi'kmaq
Maliseet
King George's War
(174448)
Royal Standard of the King of France.svg  France

Wabanaki Confederacy

Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg  Great Britain

Flag of the Iroquois Confederacy.svg Iroquois Confederacy

Father Le Loutre's War
(174955)
Royal Standard of the King of France.svg  France

Wabanaki Confederacy

Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg  Great Britain
Seven Years' War
(175463)
Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg  Great Britain

Flag of the Kingdom of Prussia (1750-1801).svg  Prussia
Flag of Portugal (1750).svg Portugal (from 1762)
Flag of Hanover (1692).svg Hanover
Blason duche ni Brunswick.svg Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Iroquois Confederacy
Flag of Hesse.svg Hesse-Kassel
Flagge Furstentum Schaumburg-Lippe.svg Schaumburg-Lippe

Royal Standard of the King of France.svg  France

Banner of the Holy Roman Emperor without haloes (1400-1806).svg Holy Roman Empire

Flag of Russia.svg  Russia (until 1762)
Bandera de Espana 1748-1785.svg Spain (from 1762)
Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden (1757–62)
Abenaki Confederacy
Alam of the Mughal Empire.svg Mughal Empire (from 1757)

French and Indian War
(175463)
Part of the Seven Years' War
Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg  Great Britain

Flag of the Iroquois Confederacy.svg Iroquois Confederacy
Catawba
Cherokee (until 1758)

Royal Standard of the King of France.svg  France

Wabanaki Confederacy

Algonquin
Lenape
Ojibwa
Ottawa
Shawnee
Wyandot

Anglo-Cherokee War
(175861)
Part of the Seven Years' War
Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg  Great Britain Cherokee
Pontiac's War
(176366)
Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg  Great Britain Ottawa
Ojibwe
Potawatomi
Huron
Miami
Wea
Kickapoo
Mascouten
Piankeshaw
Delaware
Shawnee
Wyandot
Mingo
Seneca
  • Native Americans concede British sovereignty, but compel British policy changes
  • Portage around Niagara Falls ceded by Senecas to the British
Lord Dunmore's War
(1774)
Naval Ensign of Great Britain (1707-1800).svg Colony of Virginia Shawnee
Mingo
American Revolutionary War
(177583)
Flag of the United States (1777-1795).svg  United States
Royal Standard of the King of France.svg France
Bandera de Espana 1748-1785.svg Spain
Flag of the Vermont Republic.svg Vermont

Statenvlag.svg  Netherlands


Flag of the Iroquois Confederacy.svg Iroquois

Watauga Association
Catawba
Lenape
Choctaw flag.svg Choctaw

Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg  Great Britain
Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg Loyalists
Banner of the Holy Roman Emperor (after 1400).svg German Auxiliaries

Flag of the Iroquois Confederacy.svg Iroquois

Flag of the Cherokee Nation.svg Cherokee

Cherokee–American wars
(177694)
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Flag of the United States (1777-1795).svg  United States Flag of the Cherokee Nation.svg Cherokee
Second Cherokee War
(1776)
Part of the Cherokee–American wars
Northwest Indian War
(178595)
Flag of the United States (1777-1795).svg  United States
Chickasaw
Choctaw flag.gif Choctaw
Western Confederacy
Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg Great Britain
Oconee War
(178594)
European Colonists Muscogee

19th century wars

ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2Result
Battle of Sitka (1804)Flag of Russia.svg  Russia Tlingit Kiks.ádi Clan
  • The "Sitka Kiks.ádi Survival March" commences
Tecumseh's War
(181013)
Part of the War of 1812
Flag of the United States (1795-1818).svg  United States Tecumseh's Confederacy
  • Peace treaty
War of 1812
(181215)
Flag of the United States (1795-1818).svg  United States
Choctaw flag.svg Choctaw Nation
Cherokee
Creek Allies
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom

Tecumseh's Confederacy
Flag of Spain.svg Spain (1814)

Peoria War
(1813)
Part of the War of 1812
Creek War
(181314)
Part of the War of 1812
Flag of the United States (1795-1818).svg  United States
Choctaw flag.svg Choctaw Nation
Lower Creeks
Cherokee
Red Stick Creek
First Seminole War
(181718)
Flag of the United States (1795-1818).svg  United States Seminole
Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg Spanish Florida
Texas–Indian wars
(182075)
Part of the Apache Wars
Flag of Texas (1839-1879).svg  Republic of Texas
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Comanche
Arikara War
(1823)
Flag of the United States (1822-1836).svg  United States Arikara
Winnebago War
(1827)
Flag of the United States (1822-1836).svg  United States Prairie La Crosse Ho-Chunks
with a few allies
  • Ho-Chunks cede lead mining region to the United States
Black Hawk War
(1832)
Flag of the United States (1822-1836).svg  United States
Ho-Chunk
Menominee
Dakota
Potawatomi
Black Hawks British Band
Ho-Chunk and Potawatomi allies
Second Seminole War
(183542)
Flag of the United States (1822-1836).svg  United States Seminole
Second Creek War
(1836)
Comanche Wars
(183675)
Part of the Texas–Indian wars
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg  Spain
Flag of Mexico (1823-1864, 1867-1893).svg  Mexico
Flag of Texas (1839-1879).svg  Republic of Texas
Flag of the United States (1822-1836).svg  United States
Choctaw flag.svg Choctaw Nation
Comanche
Osage Indian War
(1837)
Osage Nation
Cayuse War
(184755)
Flag of the United States (1846-1847).svg  United States Cayuse
Ute Wars
(18491923)
Flag of the United States (1851-1858).svg  United States Ute
Paiute
Navajo
Apache
  • Utes moved to reservations
Apache Wars
(18491924)
Part of the Texas–Indian wars
Flag of the United States (1851-1858).svg  United States (18491924)
Flag of the Confederate States of America (1865).svg  Confederate States (186165)
Apache
Ute
Yavapai
Comanche
Cheyenne
Kiowa
Havasupai
Hopi
Navajos
Papagos
Hualapai
Yuma
Mohave
Jicarilla War
(184955)
Part of the Apache, Ute and Texas-Indian Wars
Flag of the United States (1848-1851).svg  United States Apache
Ute
Yuma War
(185053)
Flag of the United States (1851-1858).svg  United States
Cupeno (185253)
Cocopah (1853)
Paipai
Halyikwamai
Mountain Cahuilla (1851)
Yuma
Mohave
Cocopah (185053)
Cahuilla
Cupeno (1851)
Mariposa War
(185051)
Walker War
(1853)
Part of the Ute Wars
Sioux Wars
(185491)
Flag of the United States (1851-1858).svg United States
Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg Canada
Crow
Pawnee
Eastern Shoshone
Sioux

Cheyenne
Arapaho
Kiowa
Comanche

First Sioux War
(185456)
Part of the Sioux Wars
Klickitat War
(1855)
Flag of the United States (1851-1858).svg  United States Klickitat
Cascade
Rogue River Wars
(185556)
Flag of the United States (1851-1858).svg  United States Rogue River people
  • Indians relocated to Siletz, Grand Ronde, and Coast Reservations
Third Seminole War
(185558)
Flag of the United States (1851-1858).svg  United States Seminole
Yakima War
(185558)
Flag of the United States (1851-1858).svg  United States Yakama
  • Peace treaty
Puget Sound War
(185556)
Part of the Yakima War
Flag of the United States (1851-1858).svg  United States Nisqually
Muckleshoot
Puyallup
Klickitat
Haida
Tlingit
Klamath and Salmon River War
(1855)
Tintic War
(1856)
Part of the Ute Wars
Tule River War
(1856)
Flag of the United States (1851-1858).svg  United States
Flag of California.svg  California
Yokuts
Coeur d'Alene War
(1858)
Part of the Yakima War
Mendocino War
(1858)
Part of the Yakima War
Yuki
Fraser Canyon War
(1858)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Nlaka'pamux
Bald Hills War
(185864)
Flag of the United States (1858-1859).svg  United States
Flag of California.svg  California

"Wintoons"

"Redwoods"

"Mountain tribes"

Mohave War
(185859)
Flag of the United States (1858-1859).svg  United States
Maricopa
Mohave
Hualapai
Paiute War
(1860)
Flag of the United States (1859-1861).svg  United States Paiute
Shoshone
Bannock
Yavapai Wars
(186175)
Flag of the United States (1861-1863).svg  United States Yavapai
Apache
Yuma
Mohave
Owens Valley Indian War
(186267)
Flag of the United States (1861-1863).svg  United States Owens Valley Paiute
Shoshone
Kawaiisu
Tübatulabal
Dakota War of 1862
(1862)
Part of the Sioux Wars
Flag of the United States (1861-1863).svg  United States Pine Ridge Flag.svg Dakota Sioux
Goshute War
(1863)
Colorado War
(186465)
Part of the Sioux Wars
Flag of the United States (1863-1865).svg  United States Flag of Northern Cheyenne.svg Cheyenne
Flag of Arapaho Nation.svg Arapaho
Snake War
(186468)
Flag of the United States (1863-1865).svg  United States Snake Indians
Hualapai War
(186570)
Part of the Yavapai Wars
Flag of the United States (1863-1865).svg  United States Hualapai
Yavapai
Havasupai
Black Hawk's War
(186572)
Part of the Ute, Apache and Navajo Wars
Flag of the United States (1863-1865).svg  United States Hualapai
Yavapai
Havasupai
Powder River War
(1865)
Part of the Sioux Wars
Flag of the United States (1863-1865).svg  United States Sioux
Flag of Northern Cheyenne.svg Cheyenne
Arapaho
Red Cloud's War
(186668)
Part of the Sioux Wars
Flag of the United States (1865-1867).svg  United States Pine Ridge Flag.svg Lakota
Flag of Northern Cheyenne.svg Cheyenne
Flag of Arapaho Nation.svg Arapaho
Comanche campaign
(186775)
Part of the Texas–Indian Wars
Flag of the United States (1867-1877).svg  United States Flag of Northern Cheyenne.svg Cheyenne
Flag of Arapaho Nation.svg Arapaho
Comanche
Kiowa
Modoc War
(187273)
Flag of the United States (1867-1877).svg  United States Modoc
Red River War
(187475)
Flag of the United States (1867-1877).svg  United States Flag of Northern Cheyenne.svg Cheyenne
Flag of Arapaho Nation.svg Arapaho
Comanche
Kiowa
Great Sioux War of 1876
(187677)
Part of the Sioux Wars
Flag of the United States (1867-1877).svg  United States
Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg  Canada
Pine Ridge Flag.svg Lakota
Flag of Northern Cheyenne.svg Northern Cheyenne
Flag of Arapaho Nation.svg Arapaho
  • Legal control of Powder River Country ceded to the United States
Pecos War
(187677)
Apache
Buffalo Hunters' War
(187677)
Part of the Apache and Texas–Indian Wars
Flag of the United States (1867-1877).svg  United States Comanche
Apache
Nez Perce War
(1877)
Flag of the United States (1877-1890).svg  United States Nez Perce
Bannock War
(1878)
Flag of the United States (1877-1890).svg  United States Bannock
Shoshone
Cheyenne War
(187879)
Flag of the United States (1877-1890).svg  United States Flag of Northern Cheyenne.svg Cheyenne
Sheepeater Indian War
(1879)
Flag of the United States (1877-1890).svg  United States Shoshone
White River War
(1879)
Part of the Ute Wars
Flag of the United States (1877-1890).svg  United States Ute
Victorio's War
(187980)
Part of the Apache Wars during Renegade period
Flag of the United States (1877-1890).svg  United States
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Apache
Geronimo's War
(188186)
Part of the Apache Wars
Flag of the United States (1877-1890).svg  United States Apache
Crow War
(1887)
Flag of the United States (1877-1890).svg  United States Crow
Ghost Dance War
(189091)
Part of the Sioux Wars
Flag of the United States (1890-1891).svg  United States

Sioux

20th century wars

ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2Result
Crazy Snake Rebellion
(1909)
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States Creek
New Mexico Navajo War
(1913)[ citation needed ]
Bluff War
(191415)
Part of the Navajo and Ute Wars
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States Ute
Paiute
Colorado Paiute War
(1915)
Posey War
(1923)
Part of the Ute Wars
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States Ute
Paiute

See also

References

  1. Urlacher, Brian R (2021). "Introducing Native American Conflict History (NACH) data" . Journal of Peace Research. 58 (5): 1117–1125. doi:10.1177/0022343320987274. ISSN   0022-3433. S2CID   235545224.
  2. 1 2 In 1707, the kingdoms of England and Scotland were unified as the Kingdom of Great Britain, sharing a single Parliament at Westminster under the Act of Union 1707. After this, Scottish troops joined their English counterparts in all colonial wars.
  3. Canny, p. 92.
  4. Wait, Eugene M. (1999). America and the War of 1812. Nova Publishers. p. 78. ISBN   978-1-56072-644-9.