Fun Fact #383 The Native Tribes

 Fun Fact # 383

The Native Tribes

The U.S. had long heard rumors about some of Native American groups to the west, but needed to establish communication and if trade could be opened with them. Thus this was a priority for Lewis and Clark. Inevitably this lead to several misunderstandings but Clark, Sacagawea, and York would manage to smooth things over on all but one occasion. Lewis seeking to reclaim his dog “Seaman” from the teenagers who stole him resulted in the group being pursued by Sioux warriors for more that 100 miles before finally giving up. Lewis was not allowed to go on his own missions after that. 

Post Expedition, Clark would oversee Native American relations west of the Mississippi River. He was famous for his policy to operate the Fur trade at a loss, paying Native Americans more than what the furs were worth and setting up what is now Highway 10 so no natives living above the line could be legally removed from Wisconsin. He hoped that this would foster better relations, but it did not go to plan. The Black Hawk War, which raged across Wisconsin, Iowa, and Northern Illinois would forever change how Congress viewed Native Americans. Clark would oversee the conflict as well as negotiations, and early troop training, including that of a young Abraham Lincon. Clark would eventually beat the “British Band '' led by Chief Blackhawk at the Battle of Bad Axe, but by then the damage was done. 

The United States Government now held that Clark was too soft on Natives and Andrew Jackson enacted what we now call “The Trail of Tears”. Clark ultimately was forced to comply for a brief time until his constant delaying of the policy led him to being asked to step down, before dying shortly afterwards. 

(Image of Blackhawk from Wikimedia)