Sunday, September 23, 2018

What Happened to the Native Americans in Ohio?

Ohio was the Northwest Frontier of the post revolutionary war United States. It opened to settlement to the new Americans around 1800, although people from the east coast had been moving through Ohio for decades and numerous settlements and camps popped up in the area long before it was parcelled up for sale by crony land companies.

"Military" conflict between the nascent United States and the tribe of the Delawares led to the treaty of Greenville in 1795. The local histories have many colorful stories about encounters between the Indians and the new settlers of Ohio in the aftermath. Some of the tales are brutal and stupid, some are comical and heartwarming. (Actually that period of history in Ohio is really interesting.) Then all of a sudden the Indians totally disappear.

What happened to them?

Well, as far as I can tell from what I've read, the Indians sided with Great Britain in the run up to the War of 1812, and they made a strategic move up to Canada as part of the war. Even though the British "won", the Indians were screwed by having supported the British. (See the treaty of Ghent) One of the individuals who embodies this history is Captain Pipe.

It's really unfortunate the settlers hadn't struck up friendly relations with the natives way before 1800.

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