Independence Day

The Revolutionary War shaped the future of not only the American colonies, but also the Native peoples who lived in and around them. This war engulfed the American colonies and the Native peoples. The Revolutionary War led to beginning of the United States of America. It marked the end of British rule and the beginning of a new era of self-governance and democracy for those previously living under unpredictable and overreaching monarchies and theocracies. For Native Americans, the Revolutionary War represented another threat to their territory and prosperity as they were dragged out of their own issues and into the world’s problems. Many Native American tribes were effectively forced to pick a side.

The wars broke the hard-won unity of powerful confederations such as the Cherokee nation and the Iroquois Confederacy, turning communities into battlegrounds. Native peoples were all but abandoned during the final treaty process. Thus, those running from irascible monarchies failed the new peoples by claiming victory over them as well. This brought about many changes in the political, social, and economic landscape of North America. These changes were often detrimental to Native Americans, leading to loss of land, division of communities, and a decline in their way of life. These are the same things people east of the Atlantic were running from. The incoming Europeans were not able to remove the true threat of conquering and colonialism as it was perpetuated into their youth. However, countless people fought and died for the America we so freely enjoy today, and this sacrifice will always be respected for generations to come.

Native Americans witnessed firsthand the inevitable spillover of conflict from other continents. While most Native communities tried to remain neutral, they were not passive observers, and many had to make difficult decisions about how and when to support one side or the other. Most tried to remain neutral but understood the consequences of expanding empires. In an effort to stop the expansion, some Native warriors acted as scouts for European armies and helped launch devastating raids on the colonial frontiers. Others integrated into the new societies that were built as warriors, scouts, and traders.

After the Revolutionary War, many Native American tribes who had allied with the British found themselves in a precarious position. The Treaty of Paris, which ended the war, did not address the fate of these British allies. As a result, the newly formed United States government was free to acquire Native American lands by treaty or by force. The 19th century was marked by the westward expansion of the United States, which often led to the displacement of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands. This period saw a series of forced relocations known as the Trail of Tears, during which several tribes, including the Cherokee, Muscogee (Creek), Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw nations, were forcibly removed from their lands in the southeastern United States and relocated to designated "Indian Territory" in present-day Oklahoma.

The Dawes Act of 1887 further impacted Native American lands. This act aimed to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream US society by dividing tribal lands into individual allotments. Native Americans who accepted these new land allotments received US citizenship, but about a third were not yet citizens. This act led to the loss of tribal lands as surplus lands that were sold to non-Native settlers.

The land was still treated as colonial expansion property with foreigners pouring onto the land like lava from a volcano. By the time of World War I, the relationship between the US government and Native American tribes had evolved. More than 12,000 Native Americans served in World War I, generally as scouts, snipers, and code-talkers. Those who didn’t serve in combat helped the war effort just as other Americans did, by growing victory gardens, hosting fundraisers, buying war bonds, and becoming American Red Cross volunteers. Their contributions to the war effort, particularly as code-talkers, were significant. Native American languages played a crucial role in keeping US communications secret during World War I. This led to the development of unique and effective communications strategies that stumped enemy intelligence and proved essential to winning key battles.

The Choctaw are claimed to be the first Native American code talkers to serve in the US military. This took place in the 1918 Meuse-Argonne campaign in France. During this battle, the Germans had cracked Allied codes and tapped into their communication lines. One American officer, Colonel Alfred Wainwright Bloor, devised a clever way to overcome their communicational predicament after overhearing two Choctaw soldiers in his regiment having a conversation in their native language. He realized he had absolutely no idea what they were saying, and that if he, a born and bred American, couldn’t understand them, then even the best English-speaking German had no chance. Bloor and a few Choctaw soldiers sent a test code using their native language. The first coded message sent in combat came on October 26, when Bloor ordered the movement of troops from Chufilly to Chardeny. The troops relocated effortlessly, proving the Germans had no idea that such an order had been given.

The Cherokee, along with other tribes such as the Cheyenne, Comanche, Mohawk, Pawnee, Ponca, Sac and Fox (Meskwaki), and Sioux (Lakota and Dakota dialect), also served as code talkers. While specific details about the Cherokee code talkers during World War I are not as well-documented as those of the Choctaw, their contributions were significant and they, along with other Native American code talkers, played a crucial role in the Allied war effort. The use of Native American languages in World War I marked the beginning of a strategy that would later be used extensively in World War II and contributed significantly to the success of the Allied forces.

The Revolutionary War opened up western settlement and created governments hostile to Native American territorial claims. Many tribes experienced widespread disruption as traditional trade routes were disrupted, hunting grounds were depleted, and populations were decimated by disease and conflict. The Dawes Act of 1887 led to a significant loss of tribal lands as surplus lands were sold to non-Native settlers. The relationship between Native American tribes and the U.S. government has been complex and fraught with tension. After the Revolutionary War, the U.S. government was free to acquire Native American lands by treaty and often force. However, the U.S. government and federally recognized tribes now operate on a "government-to-government" principle, meaning each treats the other like a separate nation in most respects. This relationship is further strengthened by the fact that the U.S. government has a legal obligation, known as the federal Indian trust responsibility, to protect tribal lands, assets, and resources, as well as honor the rights established in treaties with the tribes.

Today, Native American tribes continue to navigate their relationship with the U.S. government. For example, Deb Haaland, the first Native American U.S. Secretary of the Interior, is working to build stronger relationships with Native communities. However, issues such as land rights and cultural preservation remain ongoing challenges. As for Independence Day, Native American perspectives on the holiday are diverse. Some Native Americans celebrate the holiday as a coming together with the larger American community. Others refuse to celebrate due to the historical injustices suffered by their people. And some observe the 4th of July simply because it is a holiday, often holding their own tribal gatherings that have nothing to do with Independence Day.

The wars of North America's early U.S. history have had a lasting impact on Native American communities and their relationship with the U.S. government. These impacts continue to be felt today and influence Native American perspectives on national holidays like Independence Day. Regardless how you celebrate Independence Day, everyone that fought and died for the country and the land we have all inherited, should be remembered and respected. Thank you for your service. You are remembered.

The Consequences of the American Revolution.

How Were Native Americans Affected by the Revolution?

Roles of Native Americans during the Revolution.

13 Native Peoples in the Revolutionary War - Oxford Academic.

Revolutionary Limits: Native Americans.

The United States Government’s Relationship with Native Americans.

The Overlooked Story of Native Americans in World War I

Roles of Native Americans during the Revolution.

Big Idea 5: Native American Soldiers and Scouts.

Roles of Native Americans during the Revolution.

American Indians' service in World War I, 1920.

Featured Document Display: Honoring Native American Soldiers' World War.