Black Hawk and the War of 1832: Removal in the North

Bowes, John P. Black Hawk and the War of 1832: Removal in the North. Part of the Landmark Events in Native American History. 2007. 131p. ISBN 978-0-7910-9681-9. Available at 973.5 BOW on the library shelves.

When we think of Black Hawk, we may have a combat helicopter in mind. Or a hockey team from Chicago. Or a series of landmarks such as hotels and parks. But Black Hawk was a real person who lived on the east side of the Mississippi at a time when the frontier of the United States didn't stretch past Ohio. A member of the Sauk nation, Black Hawk was not considered to be a chief of the tribe, but he nevertheless inspired many to follow him.

In the 1800s, following the War of 1812, peace had been restored between the British in Canada and the Americans, but the various Native tribes that populated the frontier had been left to their own devices. Some accepted American rules, others actively resisted. All, however, saw the steady arrival of migrants from the Eastern seaboard. These new arrivals were looking for cheap land they could settle on and create new communities. Natives attempted various stratagems to retain control of their lands and traditional territories, but in the end were forced by the U.S. government to give up their claims of ownership and move further west.

Black Hawk refused to leave, and returned to his ancestral home with a large party intent on re-settling it again. However the settlers in what was then the Illinois territory grew concerned at what they perceived as Native aggression. The irreconcilable differences between the two groups led to the last Native war in the Northwest frontier and to the defeat of Black Hawk and his tribesmen.

 Black Hawk and the War of 1832 presents information about Black Hawk and the cause of the War of 1832. It explores how the crisis emerged as more and more settlers moved west, how Black Hawk and his British Band were instrumental in attempting to return to their ancestral lands, and how American militiamen and military units confronted and defeated them. The impact of this defeat on the surviving Native tribes is also discussed, as well as the legacy Black Hawk left behind. Fans of history will appreciate the thoroughness of the author and the inclusion of various images and primary sources, and will gain a new perspective on a little known event in the history of the United States.

The Alamo

Nardo, Don. The Alamo. Part of the World History series. 2013. 103p. ISBN 978-1-42050861-1. Available at 976.4 NAR on the library shelves.

With Americans spreading westward in the 1830s and Mexico imposing its own law following its independence from Spain, the two powers were bound to confront each other. The spark that lit the fuse was the desire of the new Mexican dictator, Santa Anna, to disarm all state militias and collect weapons so only the federal Mexican government had an army. Texians, however, were opposed. The population of Texas having changed in the 1810s and 1820s as Americans moved in droves for free land, a majority now felt that the far away Mexican government was taking their rights away.

When a Mexican army entered the state, it headed to San Antonio, where it was switfly defeated in a siege by the local militia. Santa Anna himself took command of another army and marched to San Antonio. The Texians who had seized the town shored up the Alamo, an old Catholic mission, and were ready to defend themselves and their families. As Santa Anna’s army approached, messages were sent to request help, but none came.

Over the next thirteen days, the siege of the Alamo became widely known in the United States. Texians bravely resisted, but were eventually overrun and all defenders perished. The Alamo’s fall sparked outrage and galvanized the state militias, which, under Sam Houston’s leadership coordinated their efforts and successfully defeated Santa Anna. This led to the area’s independence from Mexico and the establishment of the Republic of Texas.

Many famous people, including Davy Crocket and Jim Bowie perished at the Alamo, leading to the battle cry “Remember the Alamo!” Though the memory of the event remained in the nation’s consciousness and was made into movies countless times, the building itself was not maintained and eventually fell in disrepair, until steps were taken to secure it for posterity. Though a defeat, the Alamo directly impacted American politics, leading to the spread of slavery in the southwest, and changed American culture to provide the model of rugged American individual standing up for his rights.