American War of Independence: How did the miserable Indians spend it?

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 1783 Paris Treaty, which made the United States independent. The history textbooks of our domestic colleges and 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: the American people at that time did not include Indians. What do the native Indians of the North American continent think of this war, and what have they gained 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 competing for American colonies, colonial countries competed to win over Indian tribes and stand on their side in order to strengthen their own strength and gain advantages. Of course, in order to defend their territory and homeland, as well as Indian culture and habits, Indian tribes often conflict with colonists.

Indians were very surprised by the outbreak of the War of Independence. "We heard about the differences and huge 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. In the tradition of our ancestors, there are no such examples and cases. " Therefore, although Britain wanted to use Indians to form an alliance with itself, at the beginning of the war, Indians did not join any side 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 and live in harmony; You white people settle disputes by yourselves "(1775 letter from Indian tribe Onedas to the governor of Connecticut colony).

After the war broke out, white colonists continued to cross the Appalachian Mountains, emigrated to the west, 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 took a tolerant attitude towards immigrants, so Indians generally disliked independents and immigrants. Since the end of the Seven-Year War in 1763, Britain has promulgated laws prohibiting immigrants from crossing the Appalachian Mountains to avoid conflicts with Indians, thus better safeguarding 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 on 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. Like bears in the forest, we are ignorant and helpless. We are incapable of producing necessities. We only rely on you. "

At that time, British officials controlled trade with Indians. When the Indians remain neutral, Britain will reduce its trade with them, so that the life of the Indians will be in crisis, and the Indians must form an alliance with Britain for their livelihood. At that time, the independents were in financial difficulties, taking care of themselves, and the land problem was acute, so most Indians joined the British side and were hostile to Americans.

From the summer of 1776 to the autumn of 1778, Indians attacked the settlements of immigrants everywhere in the western frontier, 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, did not confront the British, and concentrated on retaliating against the Indians. He ordered General Sullivan to lead American troops into the hinterland of Iroquois tribe and scorched the earth, which caused incalculable losses to Iroquois people.

1776 In July, the Cherokee people in the southern colony rose up because they could not bear the invasion of their land by immigrants, attacked whites everywhere and burned the immigrant settlements. In September and 10, South Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina joined forces to counter the Indian attack and defeated the Indian tribe. 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 want 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 will always be good for you to support your family and inventory. ..... Hunting is our main way of life, and I hope you will seriously consider this. " The reduction of land means the reduction of hunting space, which is indeed a fundamental problem of life and death for tribes who make a living by hunting. It has its own logic for Indians to join the British side and oppose American independence.

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 unbearable 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 soldiers from Onidas and Tass Calora went to support the American army fighting with 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, due to 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 try 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 very close to white immigrants, and most of them have accepted Christianity under the influence of white culture. For example, Onedas and TuScarola tribes all 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 high religious literacy. However, the US military did not trust its Indian allies who fought alongside it, and even perfidiously killed peace-loving 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, but1On March 8, 782, 90 Indians were killed there innocently by American troops. 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 fight 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 induce Indians to participate in the war. "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 a country that has never hurt us." It is precisely because immigrants invaded Indian land constantly during the war and were very greedy that most Indians sided with the British.

Indians shed blood and died for the cause of Britain, and for this reason, their territory was constantly occupied by white immigrants, their population dropped sharply, and their strength was greatly weakened because of American retaliation. The British sometimes stood by and did not cooperate in the battle, which also reduced the supply of necessities to Indians. Indians feel sad, wronged and helpless about this. /kloc-in the summer of 0/775, independent troops 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 or injured, 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. " A similar situation was encountered in the battle between the choctaw and the Spanish. 178 1 In March, when a Spanish fleet carrying a Galveston army appeared in the waters near Pensacola, hundreds of Choctaw and Cricks helped 1500 British troops to carry out the anti-landing operation. The brave choctaw people broke through the Spanish defense, but failed to get the support of the British army and finally failed. The leader of Chocto said angrily that every major action taken by the Indians against the Spanish was completed without assistance or reward. It can be said that the Indians participated in the war of independence, and the gains were not great, but the losses were immeasurable.

1783 In September, Britain and the separatists signed the Treaty of Paris, 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, India 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 establish friendship with New America through peaceful negotiations. 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 Mohawk in the Iroquois Alliance, were shocked. "We are very shocked and frustrated by this news, 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 buried from the beginning is safe for them. "

There are also some Indians who know that their hatred for 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 up with Virginians or Spaniards-we can't meet them." The British commander of St. Augustine declared: "These people seem to be as excited as those sad loyalists on the eve of the third evacuation. Although it seems to us that this is purely wishful thinking, they seriously proposed to abandon their hometown and come with us because they used to be loyal to us and made too many enemies. "

No matter what the Indians thought, the British abandoned them and left them alone to face the winner. The fate of the Indians can be imagined.