What is the history of Indians?

We are already very familiar with the general process of the American War of Independence, from the gunfire in Lexington to the Declaration of Independence, from Saratoga to the Battle of Yorktown, and finally to the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

The history textbooks of our domestic universities regard the victory of the War of Independence as the victory of the American people for independence, freedom and human rights.

This is certainly good.

But there is another side to the story: Americans at that time did not include Indians.

What do the native Indians of North America think of this war, and what did they gain from the victory of this war? This is what we ignore.

Before the War of Independence, North American Indians were still very strong, and they were a force that local immigrants from Britain, France and Spain could not underestimate.

In the process of colonial countries competing for American colonies, they scrambled to win over Indian tribes and stand on their side in order to enhance their own strength and gain advantages.

Of course, in order to defend their territory and homeland and Indian culture and habits, Indian tribes often clashed with colonists.

Indians were very surprised by the outbreak of the War of Independence.

"We have heard about the differences and great disputes between you and old England.

We are very confused and sad.

"They don't understand why they are all of the same blood.

"Quarrel seems unnatural, because you are brothers.

..... This quarrel between your brothers is new and strange to us Indians.

There are no such examples and cases in the tradition of our ancestors.

"Therefore, although Britain wanted to use the Indians to form an alliance with itself, at the beginning of the war, the Indians did not join any political party and remained neutral.

They think this is a family conflict and quarrel, an internal dispute between the king and his children, and outsiders should not participate and ask questions.

As long as the two sides maintain peace and do not infringe on their own interests, "we declare peace, and we don't want you to ask the Indians to stand on the side of New England.

Let us Indians unite as one and live in peace; You white people settle disputes by yourselves "(1775 letter from the Indian tribe Onidas to the Governor of Connecticut Colony).

After the war broke out, white settlers continued to cross the Appalachian Mountains, migrated westward, and constantly occupied Indian land, so immigrants and Indians continued to occur.

However, the Continental Congress not only failed to stop the westward movement of whites, but also tolerated immigrants, so Indians generally disliked independents and immigrants.

Since the end of the Seven-Year War in 1763, the British have promulgated laws prohibiting immigrants from crossing the Appalachian Mountains in order to avoid conflicts with Indians and better safeguard the interests of the British Empire.

This ban has reduced the phenomenon of Indian land occupation to a certain extent, so Indians have a good impression of British officials.

On the other hand, in the long-term interaction between Indians and whites, Indians gradually formed a dependence on white trade in their daily lives.

1772, an Indian leader said, "We are poor. We need gunpowder, just like bears in the forest. We are ignorant and helpless. We are unable to produce necessities, so we must rely on you.

"At that time, British officials controlled the trade with Indians.

When Indians remain neutral, Britain will reduce trade with them, so that Indians' lives will be in crisis, and Indians must also form an alliance with Britain because of livelihood problems.

At that time, the independents were in financial difficulties, self-care and acute land problems, so most Indians joined the British side and were hostile to the Americans.

From the summer of 1776 to the autumn of 1778, Indians attacked the settlements of immigrants everywhere in the western border area, because these immigrants seized Indian land and hunting grounds, threatening the survival of Indians.

In addition to attacking immigrants, Indians also assisted the British in fighting, which disrupted the US military's operational plan and caused great difficulties to the US military's military resources and food supply.

In order to counter the Indian attack,1In May, 779, Washington shrank its front, stopped confronting the British, and concentrated on retaliating against the Indians.

He ordered General Sullivan to lead the American army, go deep into the hinterland of Iroquois tribe, and implement scorched earth, which caused immeasurable losses to Iroquois.

An Iroquois woman recalled: "They destroyed all the food they could find, burned some of our corn, and then threw the rest into the river. They burned down our house, destroyed our fruit trees, and killed several cows and horses they found, leaving nothing but land and wood.

"One of the biggest consequences of this sweeping of Indians is the death of a large number of Indians.

"That winter was particularly cold, and the snow was five feet thick. When the snow melted the next spring, a large number of wild deer died, and other animals died in large numbers because of the cold.

Our people are dying. In fact, some people died of hunger and cold.

"1In July, 776, the Cherokee people in the southern colony rose up and rebelled because they could not bear the invasion of their land by immigrants, attacking whites everywhere and burning immigrant settlements.

In September and 10, southern Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina joined forces to counter the Indian attacks and defeated the Indian tribes.

Cherokees were forced to sign a peace treaty and give up their territory in South Carolina.

At the negotiating table, Indians expressed their incomprehension and anger towards immigrants.

"Why do you ask for so much land, so close to us? I feel sorry for that. I understand that if we give up these lands, it will bring you far more than a few hundred pounds.

When the goods you give us are rotten and worthless, the land is still good for you to support your family and inventory.

..... Hunting is our main way of life, and I hope you can seriously consider this.

"The reduction of land means the reduction of hunting space, which is indeed a fundamental issue of life and death for tribes who make a living by hunting.

Indians join the British side and oppose American independence, which has their own logic.

Of course, not all Indian tribes are on the side of the British.

During the war, the only important tribes that supported independence were Tas Calora and Onidas tribes of the Six-Party Alliance of Iroquois.

Onidas initially wanted to remain neutral.

But this war is an intolerable neutral conflict. Finally, due to the efforts of kirkland, a missionary of the New England Mission, most Onidas and Tass Calora decided to support the Americans.

1September, 777, 150 Onidas and Tass Calora went to support the American army fighting British general Bokin.

Boldin's March was forced to stop, and he was surrounded by the continental army and militia. 10, Bojin led 5000 British troops to surrender in Saratoga.

1778 In September, with the efforts of George Morgan, an independent Indian agent, Delaware, an Indian tribe, signed an alliance treaty with the Confederate Congress.

From the date of signing the contract, the two sides will eliminate hostility and bury the hatchet.

If one side goes to war with any third country, the other side should do its best to help.

Because the independents are waging a war against the king and defending life, freedom and independence, the Continental Army has the right to freely pass through the territory of Delaware.

In order to repay the Indians, the Confederate Congress promised to respect the territory and rights of Delaware tribes and promised that Delaware tribes would join the Confederacy as a state.

We find that Indian tribes allied with the United States generally live close to white immigrants, and most of them have accepted Christianity under the influence of white culture.

For example, both Onedas and TuScarola tribes believe in Protestant Presbyterian Church.

Some people become neutral after believing in Christianity.

Many tribes that support the British believe in Anliganism, such as the Mohawk tribe, and its leader, Blunt, also has a high religious accomplishment.

However, the US military did not trust its Indian allies who fought alongside it, and even treacherously killed peaceful Indians.

/kloc-The most active missionary group in North America in the 0/8th century was the United Brotherhood, or Moravian Sect.

They actively preached in the frontier of Pennsylvania. Many people in Delaware and Mahikan tribe believe in religion, but on March 8, 782, 90 Indians were killed there by the US military. The US military suspects that they want to attack immigrants.

What is even more shameful is that 1779, the US military killed the leader of the Delaware tribe, an ally for peace.

This bloody act angered Delaware tribes, who abandoned their alliance with the United States and joined the British side.

Indians are fighting for their own survival.

They are well aware that the British use their own purposes.

178 1 year, hoboken of Delaware tribe said to British officer Su Le Pace, "You fight for your own cause, not for us.

"They are not satisfied with the means used by the British to lure Indians into the war with daily necessities." We know very well that if we don't obey your orders, you will stop supplying the necessities we need. "

But he said: "We have neither reason nor desire to fight against a country that has never hurt us.

"It is precisely because immigrants constantly invaded Indian land during the war and were very greedy that most Indians stood on the side of the British.

Indians shed blood and died for the cause of Britain. For this reason, their territory was constantly occupied by white immigrants. Due to American retaliation, their population decreased sharply and their strength was greatly weakened.

The British sometimes stood by in the battle, sometimes did not cooperate, and reduced the supply of necessities to Indians.

Indians feel sad, wronged and helpless about this.

/kloc-in the summer of 0/775, the independent army went north to attack Canada with the intention of encouraging immigrants there to oppose British rule.

In the process of attacking Canada, Indian tribes helped Britain resist the American attack and helped Britain a lot.

However, Canadian immigrants did not appreciate this, which made the Mohawk tribe leader Blunt very sad.

"In the battle, many of our excellent soldiers were killed and wounded, and the Indians were deceived by white Canadians. It's true.

The enemy came back, but no white people helped the Indians. They all retreated to their villages and stood by.

"In the battle between the choctaw and the Spanish, a similar situation was encountered.

178 1 in March, when a Spanish fleet carrying a Galveston fleet appeared in the waters near Pensacola, hundreds of choctaws and Cricks helped 1500 British troops to carry out anti-landing operations.

The brave choctaw people broke through the Spanish defense, but they failed to get the support of the British army and finally failed.

Choctaw's leaders said angrily that every major action taken by Indians against Spaniards was completed without assistance or reward.

It can be said that Indians participated in the war of independence, and gained little, but the losses were immeasurable.

1783 In September, Britain signed the Treaty of Paris with the separatists, recognizing the independence of the United States.

Britain allocated a large area of Indian land to the United States without consulting its Indian allies.

In the treaty, the British did not raise the issue of Indian rights, that is, Indian rights were not protected by the treaty.

Theoretically, Indians and the United States are still at war.

The British signed a contract with the United States, achieved peace, and abandoned their allies, which Indians did not expect.

Faced with this result, Indian tribes have been thinking about their own countermeasures.

Some Indian tribes tried to negotiate peace and establish friendship with New America.

The Chikso tribe opposed independence in the War of Independence, and later contacted the Confederacy to repair it.

1783 In July, Chikaso wrote to Congress: "We are really glad to know that our father (referring to Britain) and his children-Americans-have finally stopped fighting for peace.

..... We heard that you will treat us fairly, and we hope to talk to you.

"Other Indian tribes, such as the Mohawks in the Iroquois Alliance, were shocked.

"Hearing this news, we are very shocked and frustrated, and our people are also very dissatisfied and surprised.

"They asked the British to give them a definite answer.

"For the benefit of Indians loyal to the king, I want to know a definite answer.

Whether the Indians who are British allies are included in the treaty, and whether the land where our ancestors and their descendants lived and died from the beginning is safe for them.

"There are also some Indians who know that their hatred with Americans is too deep to be repaired. They are willing to leave this home where they were born and raised, and retreat with the British.

A leader said to the British, "If the British want to give up this land, we are willing to go with you-we can't make peace with Virginians or Spaniards-we can't satisfy them."