1850-1860’s Territory, Treaties, & Conflict 1846-1848 Britain leaves Oregon Country

• 1846 – Oregon Treaty • Britain withdraws land claims south of 49th parallel. • US withdraws land claims north of 49th parallel.

• Nov. 1847- Whitman Massacre • Members in US Congress push legislation forward to make Oregon Country a US territory. • They want Whitman attackers to be tried under US law. 1848 -- Oregon Territory established

• 1848 –US Congress authorizes creation of Oregon Territory

• Citizens and Natives in Oregon Territory are subject to US law.

Cayuse War 1850-1855

• The Whitman trial did not end the conflict between Cayuse and settlers. • Skirmishes and raiding parties continued between the military and the Cayuse for several years after the trail. • Cayuse were finally defeated in 1855. • With their numbers significantly reduced by the war, the Cayuse were placed on a reservation with the Umatilla Indians and their tribal lands were confiscated. Traditional Native Homelands of Oregon Indian Reservations of Oregon Today

Cayuse are assigned to the Umatilla Reservation 1850’s – The Big Migration Continues

• Homesteaders, Farmers, & Merchants move west. • Oregon Trail becomes a well-established route, with thousands of Americans moving west. • More and more farms and towns.

Donation Land Claims Act 1850

Huh? Donation Land Claims Act -1850

For every white male over 18 years of age. • Eligible to claim 320 acres of free land. • If married, the couple can claim 640 acres of land. – 640 acres = 1 sq mi (that’s a lot of land!)

• Unmarried women were out of luck. ? Claiming Land

1. Go to the local land office. 2. Select a piece of land off of the map. 3. Mark the corners of the property with posts. 4. Advertise the claim in the local paper. 5. If no one challenges the claim, ownership of the land is legal.

? Donation Land Claims Act

Huh?

SORE POINT #1 • The Act and the land offices ignored Native rights to their traditional lands. • Much of the so-called free land was in fact Native land. Cultural Collision over Land Use

Camas Plants

Traditional uses of the land SORE POINT #2 - Conflicting Uses over Land

Farms and Towns destroy grasslands and habitat Indian Way of Life Harder to Maintain Meanwhile…Oregon Territory is on the large side

After the Oregon Territory was created, settlers complained that the Territory was too big.

Very few roads existed, so travel was long & hard.

It could take days for news/laws/decisions to reach all corners of the Territory. 1853 WA Territory established

• In 1853, Oregon Territory was divided into three territories: • Oregon, Washington, Idaho 1853 WA Territory, US What is a US Territory?

• Territory lands are subject to US laws • Residents elect representatives to Congress – Representatives are non-voting • Local officials and judges of the Territory are appointed by US Congress. • Federal government oversees the governing of the Territory – Territorial Governor takes orders from US gov’t.

Isaac Stevens appointed Territorial Governor of Washington Territory. Biggest problem: • Growing tension & conflict between Natives & Settlers Cayuse War Confirms a Need for a Solution • The United States government recognizes that it will be facing wars with the bigger tribes throughout the Territories, unless something changes. • In an effort to achieve a lasting peace, the US government pursues a policy of treaty-making with the many tribes of the Pacific Northwest. Isaac Stevens works to negotiate treaties across WA Territory Treaties of 1855 Stevens worked to negotiate treaties with most tribes in Washington Territory. • Goals: • Achieve lasting peace.

• Settle land ownership conflicts between settlers/homesteaders & Native Americans.

• Tribes cede (give up) to the US significant portions of their traditional lands.

• Tribes receive compensation for these lands.

• Tribes keep a small portion of their lands that is off limits to American settlement— these are reservations. Treaties of 1855 -problems

• The process was rushed. • To save time, treaties were negotiated with groups of tribes, even if there was historical conflict/distrust among them. • Though translators were present—major ideas were lost in translation. • Several tribes in the Territory chose not to enter into treaty negotiations and/or treaties were not signed.

Impact of Ceding Lands -- Yakama tribe

Traditional Lands

Reservation Result of Treaty with Makah Impact of Ceding Lands -- Nisqually

Nisqually Ancestral Lands Impact of Ceding Lands -- Nisqually

Treaty 1855

Nisqually Reservation: Total Area: 2 sq mi Impact of Ceding Lands -- Nationally

Native American Reservations within the Continental US

• By the 1860’s it is estimated that Native peoples' land base shrunk from 2 billion acres to less than 100 million acres -- about 4 percent of the United States. Why did the NW Natives agree to such terms in their treaties?

• They wanted peace like the Americans • Getting a little bit of land was better than not getting anything at all. • For the most tribes, Indians were given the right to hunt and fish in their “usual and accustomed places.” – This allowed then to hunt/fish on their ancestral lands that were outside their reservation. Native Conflicts in WA Indian Conflicts

Battle of Seattle 1856

Battle of Rosalia 1858

Yakama War 1855-1858 Cayuse War 1847-1855 Cayuse War 1847-1855

• Following the Whitman massacre in 1847, there were numerous conflicts involving settlers as well as soldiers against the Cayuse.

• Cayuse were defeated in 1855. Yakama War 1855-1858

• The Yakama tribe signed a treaty with Isaac Stevens on June 9, 1855. – Though they signed, most were unhappy with the terms of the treaty • After the signing, gold discoveries were made in nearby areas and in British Columbia. • Prospectors trespassed on Yakama lands, stole Yakama horses, and harassed Yakama women. • In retaliation, several miners were murdered in separate attacks – A government supervisor was also killed Yakama War 1855-1858 • US troops were sent from The Dalles, OR, to restore order. • 3 significant battles – Toppenish, Union Gap, & Spokane Plains • In 1858, the Yakima were defeated at Spokane Plains. It was their last battle. Battle of Seattle & Chief Leschi - 1856

• Leschi was Chief of the Nisqually Nation & participated in the "Battle of Seattle" on January 26, 1856. • Indians attacked & burned settler homes along the outskirts of the Seattle. – 2 settlers were killed. Battle of Seattle & Chief Leschi - 1856

• Hostilities ended after a couple of days.

• After the battle, Leschi was arrested for murder-- over the deaths associated with the battle. • He was convicted and hanged.

• Why was this hanging unlawful? Battle of Rosalia 1858 • Troops led by Colonel Steptoe left Ft Walla Walla and headed toward Spokane. – His mission: • Investigate the murder of two white prospectors by natives. • Demonstrate a military presence in order to calm the white settlers who were encroaching on Indian territory. – Steptoe’s unit was outfitted with obsolete firearms. • It was not a large force. Battle of Rosalia 1858 • Steptoe’s unit was attacked and overrun by the Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, and Nez Perce Indians near present day Rosalia, WA

Rosalia

Ft Walla Walla US Response to Battle of Rosalia

• After the battle, the military sent out a larger military force with more powerful firearms. • They attacked tribes and villages, slaughtering horses and executing tribal leaders throughout Eastern Washington. • Upwards of 700 horses were slaughtered and 24 Indian leaders from various tribes were hung during the campaign. Indian hostilities end by 1860’s

• The US military overpowers armed resistance.