1797 The American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia begins seeking archeological remains of Indians, initiating a 200- year-long practice of desecrating Indian graves. This practice continues until passage of the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) in 1990. 1803 The Louisiana Purchase expands U.S. territory and sets up con- flicts with western Indian nations. 1804–1806 The Lewis and Clark expedition meets Indian tribes, some of whom have not previously encountered Americans. Sacajawea, a Shoshone woman, assists the expedition as a guide and translator. 1805–1811 The Shawnee leader Tecumseh and his brother, the prophet Tenskwatawa, attempt to unify tribes east of the Mississippi River in opposition to American expansionism, especially in the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes regions. 1811 Governor William Henry Harrison of the Northwest Territory scores a major victory over the Shawnees at the Battle of Tippecanoe in Indiana on November 7. 1813 Tecumseh, fighting against the Americans in the War of 1812, is killed on October 5 near the Thames River in Canada. 1817–1818 The First Seminole War occurs in Spanish Florida. 1824 A Bureau of Indian Affairs is created within the War Department. 1827 White Cloud, a Winnebago and Sauk prophet, leads resistance to settlers in the Winnebago War in Wisconsin. After they are defeated, the Winnebagos are forced to relocate to Minnesota by 1840. 1830 President Andrew Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act on May 29 mandating removal of Indian tribes from the eastern half of the United States to beyond the Mississippi River. First to move are the Choctaws. 1832 Black Hawk leads resistance to settlers in Illinois and Wisconsin in the Black Hawk War. His defeat signals the end of major Indian resistance east of the Mississippi. 1835–1842 Osceola leads the Second Seminole War in Florida in opposition to efforts to relocate the Seminoles. Osceola dies in 1837 after being captured by U.S. troops. 1838–1840 Following the “Trail of Tears,” Cherokees are forced to leave the Southeast for Indian Territory (the future Oklahoma). 1846–1848 War between the United States and Mexico results in large additions of land to the United States, including Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. This expansion sets the stage for war between the U.S. government and the Apaches (initially led by Mangas Coloradas and Cochise). 1848 The discovery of gold in California leads to massive displace- ment of Indians. Timeline of Events in the History of Native American–U.S. Relations xv
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