Chapter 17: Cultures in Conflict

Chapter Overview:

Examines the conflict between Native Americans and Anglo

ranchers / farmers in West Texas

Chapter Sections

• Section 1: Describes how Native Americans controlled West Texas after the Civil War.

• Section 2: Explains how Native American culture was changed by the extermination of the buffalo and battles with U.S. Army / Texas Rangers.

• Section 3: Describes the last Native American battles at the Rio Grande.

Section 1: West Texas After the Civil WarNative Americans Control the West:By 1850, most Native Americans removed from Eastern

half of Texas• However, settlers in West Texas lived under constant

fear of raids

To stop the raids, federal troops stationed in West TX;

1. posts at Fredericksburg, Albany, San Angelo,

Fort Stockton, Fort Davis, El Paso

For awhile, the army was unable to stop the raids – WHY?

Army Disadvantages1. Not enough soldiers and untrained2. Little/no experience fighting Native Americans3. Forts built too far apart/ too far west to immediately protect settlers4. Shortages of food/supplies forced the cancellation of many army attack

campaigns

Native American Advantages1. Knew the lands of West Texas very well

2. Skilled fighters

a) in the time it took to load a rifle or pistol (1 min), a skilled warrior could ride 200 yds and shoot 20 arrows

3. Plus, by 1870s, most

Native Americans

carried rifles, too

Treaty of Medicine Lodge Creek

1867 – federal agents met with tribal chiefs in (present-day) Kansas and signed treaty

Terms of the treaty:

1. Native Americans moved to reservations in Indian Territory (present-day Okla)

2. U.S. govt provide food/supplies

3. U.S. army not allowed on the reservations

4. Native Americans would STOP the raids on settlers.

Treaty (cont’d)

• Generally believed that kind, fair treatment would stop Native Americans from raiding

• Many Quakers served as Indian Agents

1. Quakers did not believe in violence

2. Lawrie Tatum – Quaker Indian Agent

who worked to educate Native Americans

in agriculture so they could earn living in

white man’s world

Medicine Lodge Treaty Fails

• Many Native Americans refused to sign treaty – nearly one-half of Comanches, Kiowas

• Claimed:

1. government broke promises made to

them;

2. cheated and mistreated them

Satanta – Kiowa Chief

• Most famous Kiowa chief – excellent speaker (Orator of the Plains)

• Wanted to preserve Kiowa way of life

• Insisted that West TX belonged to Kiowas and Comanches

• Believed his people could not survive very long on reservations

Other Chiefs Agree:

• Lone Wolf – Kiowa chief who called for war against army/settlers (to avenge son’s death in army battle)

• Ten Bears – Comanche chief who argued that people must be allowed to roam freely over TX plains

• Quanah Parker – Comanche chief and son of Nocona and white woman, Cynthia Ann Parker; spent 10 years attacking/trying to run settlers out of TX

Lone Wolf

Ten Bears

Quanah Parker

Some Tribes LeftKicking Bird and Striking Eagle – Kiowa chiefs who argued

against war with army and advised people to accept the ways of the white man

Horseback – Comanche chief who moved his people to reservations.

Warfare between Native Americans and army troops / settlers increased and became much more serious!

A Kiowa drawing of a battle in West TX – possibly Red River campaign