INDIAN REMOVAL PROGRAMS
(1830-1900)
By: Brooke Fuller and Breanne DePino
TECUMSEH WARS
War between the United States and an American
Indian Confederacy led by the Shawnee leader
Tecumseh.
 This was the final conflict of the 60 years war
resulting in Europe’s conquest of the Great Lakes
Region.
 Continued into the war of 1812.
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THE CREEK WARS (1813-1814)
Also known as the Red Stick War and The Creek
Civil War.
 Began as a civil war within the Creek Nation and
America was pulled into it when American
soldiers stopped and looted a party of Red Sticks.
The Red Sticks realized they were being looted
and came back with a surprise attack which is
known today as The Battle of Burnt Corn.
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CREEK WARS CONTINUED
America’s federal forces were busy fighting in
Britain, so the southern states in the U.S. had to
call up their militias to deal with the threat.
 After a few small battles, all resulting in
American victory, Andrew Jackson forced the
Creeks to sign the Treaty of Fort Jackson.
 The Creek ceded over 23 million acres to the
United States government.

INDIAN REMOVAL ACT
US was expanding south
 Settlers ran into obstacles…. The natives
 Settlers pressured the government to forcibly
remove the natives because they needed the land
for growing cotton
 Jackson wrote treaties for the natives to sign to
move west of Mississippi; some signed, those who
didn’t were forced to move
 Led to the Seminole Wars
 Jackson saw the natives as “children in need of
guidance”
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INDIAN REMOVAL ACT (CONTINUED)
In 1832, the government tried to get the natives
to sign a treaty that claimed that the government
would supply the natives with suitable land and
protection
 Most of the natives agreed, the Cherokee did not
 Jackson sent 7,000 troops to force the Cherokees
to move, most died of cold, hunger, and disease
 Trail named the trail of tears
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THE TRAIL OF TEARS
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A trail that was used to relocate Indian tribes into
reservations that were located in present day
Oklahoma.
This trail is mostly remembered for the Cherokee
tribe.
This was considered an act of genocide by many
people, including some of the soldiers who were
involved.
The main tribes that were moved on this trail were
the Choctaws, Seminoles, Creeks, Chickasaw, and the
Cherokee.
It was called the Trail of Tears, because of the death
and misery of the tribes who were forced to leave
their homes.
THE FIRST SEMINOLE WAR (1817-1818)
Began over attempts by the United States
authorities to recapture runaway slaves living
among Seminole tribes.
 Andrew Jackson was a general during this war
and led U.S. military forces to invade the
Seminoles in Florida and South Georgia.
 After the U.S. defeated the Seminoles, Spain
ceded Florida to the U.S. in 1821.
 Now that America had Florida, it began urging
Indians who lived there to leave their lands and
relocate with other tribes in southeastern Indian
territory.
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FIRST SEMINOLE WAR (CONTINUED)
Some of the Seminole tribe leaders signed a
treaty in 1832. This allowed some of the tribe to
be able to stay there and some to relocate.
 Seminoles who refused to sign and recognize the
treaty fled into the Florida Everglades.
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SECOND SEMINOLE WAR
AKA Florida War
 1835-1842
 Most expensive Indian war
 Alabamas, Choctaws, Yamasees, Yuchis, and
Creek vs. US
 Group named Seminoles

SECOND SEMINOLE WAR (CONTINUED)
Treaty of Payne’s Landing:
 Negotiated for the Seminoles to move west of
Mississippi
 Were given 3 years
 Some disagreed
 Whites assaulted remaining natives
 3 whites killed, one Indian injured, another killed
 550 soldiers stationed in Florida
 Seminoles ambushed soldiers, only two lived
 Army retreats
 In 1837, US captured 40 Seminoles, but still
unsuccessful

SECOND SEMINOLE WAR (CONTINUED)
Army brought in bloodhounds
 Indians went through water so hounds couldn’t
track
 18 soldiers followed but 6 were killed
 Went to Indian Key
 Indian Key became a base
 Indians stole and burnt down buildings
 1842: decided remaining Seminoles be left alone
if they stayed in Southern Florida
 Cost up to $40 million
 1,466 died, mostly from disease or infected
injuries

SECOND SEMINOLE WAR (CONTINUED)
Only 3,136 Seminoles remained
 Peace came to Florida for a little while
 Disputes began again
 Started Third Seminole War
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THIRD SEMINOLE WAR
1855-1858
 AKA Billy Bowlegs War
 Last Florida War
 Mostly guerilla warfare
 US tried to remove Indians and force them to
move west of Mississippi
 Leader of Seminoles: Billy Bowlegs who refused
to move
 At end: Bowlegs agreed to leave for money
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WORKS CITED
www.wikipedia.org
 www.pbs.org
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