Red River Wars

During the late 1800s, life was changing drastically and quickly in Texas. Texans continued to rebuild after the Civil War and restore the economy of the state. Immigrants and American settlers poured into Texas in the hopes of starting new lives. The influx of settlers created issues for the American Indian tribes of Texas.

The Red River War

​Before the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, the United States established forts in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. These forts provided safe entry into western lands for settlers. Treaties between American Indian tribes and the United States were made to allow settlers to move into new territories. Unfortunately, the government often broke the terms of the treaties. When a treaty was broken, it angered the tribes and led to open conflict.

In 1874, hostilities broke out between settlers and tribes in eastern Texas. The Comanche, Kiowa, Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes were removed from their lands and forced to move to reservations. This was done to open the land for settlers. The tribes agreed to leave as long as they could continue to hunt for bison. Bison was the main source of food and clothing for the tribes.

Multiple Choice

Why did the United States establish forts in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas before the Civil War?

• to deter hostilities from the Confederate States of America

• to prevent invasions from Mexico

• to provide safe entry into western lands for settlers

• to provide settlers in western states with supplies

The government continued to restrict the movements of the American Indian tribes and refused to let them leave the reservations to hunt. The tribes became desperate for food and fought back against the settlers and the United States. Comanche leaders Isa-tai and Quanah Parker recruited warriors and led raiding parties into the Panhandle of Texas. For over a year, the Comanche, Kiowa, Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes fought for control of their ancestral lands and the right to hunt in Texas.

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​On June 2, 1875, Quanah Parker and his Comanche warriors surrendered to the U.S. army. The United States won the war, and the tribes were forced to live on reservations. They had to adapt to a new, difficult way of life that created much suffering. They couldn’t hunt anymore and had to rely on the government for food and supplies.

The construction of the railroad connecting the west and east coasts of the country was one of the greatest achievements for the United States. Following the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, spur lines were built throughout Texas to connect it to markets across the country.

​For American Indian tribes, the railroad was one of the worst changes to come to their communities. The building of the railroad removed tribes from their lands, destroyed natural resources, and caused large herds of animals normally hunted by tribes to migrate to new areas. The railroad also brought many more people west. Settlers came looking for new opportunities, jobs, and land. Conflict over land occurred between tribes and settlers. While one population benefited from the railroad, another population suffered because of it.

Multiple Choice

For the American Indian tribes, the __________ was one of the worst changes to come to their communities.

• automobile

• highway system

• railroad

• steamboat

​The loss of the bison is perhaps one of the greatest injuries the western tribes suffered. The American army and hunters traveling west killed thousands of bison during the 1800s. The Plains tribes needed the bison for food, clothing, fuel, and even tools. With the bison nearly gone, the Plains tribes were unable to meet their needs. The tribes became dependent on the government for food and supplies. This drastically changed their way of life.

Multiple Choice

Which animal was the main source of food and other resources for the American Indian tribes of Texas?

• bison

• deer

• fish

• horses

Multiple Choice

What did the Plains Tribes NOT need the bison for?

• food

• clothing

• jewelery

• fuel and tools

Multiple Choice

The tribes become dependent on the government for food and supplies.

• TRUE

• FALSE