The presence of white settlers in America meant ensuing feuds with Native Americans (Indians) was apparent. Despite peaceful meetings and treaties, there were several skirmishes and massacres resulting in the settlers overcoming the natives due to the superiority of weapons, organization, and resources. The United States government offered treaties that sought to relocate Indians onto reservations guaranteeing them land in the west. These were constantly breached by the U.S. government but were nonetheless signed by several tribes. There were certain fierce tribes opposed to such agreements preferring to fight the government. Some of them were led by equally fierce Native American Chiefs whose names are now famous for having led their tribes into some of the bloodiest battles in US- Indian history. Here are ten of them.
10 Pontiac
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Pontiac was a well-known warrior in the French and Indian Wars. He was chief of his tribe in Ottawa and had entered into an alliance with New France against the British colonists. Still the British were victorious in the war. Pontiac later launched a rebellion against the British after becoming upset with the new trading policies. He attracted several regional tribes to his cause to form a resistance against the British, thus starting Pontiac’s Rebellion/War. It began in 1763 when Pontiac attacked a fort in Detroit.
The attack was unsuccessful but various other forts were destroyed throughout Michigan and Western Pennsylvania causing heavy casualties for the British. 3 years later Pontiac signed a treaty with the British for his own amnesty which sparked anger amongst many Indians. In 1769 he was killed by a member of a different tribe.
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