The Northwest Indian War (1785–1795) – America’s First Indian War | Full History Documentary - video Dailymotion

The Timeline of Wars

The Northwest Indian War (1785–1795) was America's first major conflict after independence — a brutal struggle between the United States and Native American tribes over control of the Northwest Territory. In this full documentary, discover the untold story of early American expansion, native resistance, and the fight for control that shaped the future of the nation.  🌎 Learn about: - The Treaty of Paris and the disputed Northwest Territory - Legendary Native leaders like Little Turtle and Blue Jacket - American generals St. Clair and Anthony Wayne - Key battles like Harmar's Defeat, St. Clair's Disaster, and Fallen Timbers - The Treaty of Greenville and the end of the war  📽️ Subscribe for more war history documentaries and timelines. 🎙️ Featuring human-like AI narration, non-copyright visuals, and original editing. #AmericanHistory #IndianWars #NorthwestIndianWar  🔔 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe!

Transcript

00:00the year was 1783 the american revolution had ended and the united states was a fragile new

00:08nation its leaders looked west to the northwest territory land promised by britain in the treaty

00:14of paris to americans it was a blank slate land to settle farm and pay off war debts but this

00:20land was far from empty for generations it had been home to the shawnee miami delaware wyandot

00:26pottawatomie and others their villages and hunting grounds filled the forests and prairies this was a

00:32managed homeland not wilderness the rivers trees and earth were sacred their connection deep and

00:38spiritual something no foreign treaty could erase the arrival of settlers felt like invasion families

00:44crossed the ohio river ignoring boundaries and native rights clearing forests and building cabins

00:49to native peoples these newcomers were trespassers threatening their existence every new cabin was a

00:55piece of their world lost the u.s government weak and in debt encouraged settlement to raise money

01:00and reward soldiers native nations saw this as a fight for survival a defense of home family and way

01:07of life they had not signed the treaty of paris nor recognized u.s authority over their lands the

01:13americans saw opportunity the native nations saw invasion neither side would back down the stage was

01:19set for a bitter and bloody conflict facing american expansion the native nations of the ohio valley

01:28united as never before leaders like little turtle miami blue jacket shawnee and bakonga helas delaware

01:35forged the western confederacy a powerful alliance of thousands their message the ohio river was the

01:41permanent boundary no more land would be sold the confederacy insisted that land belong to all tribes in

01:47common rejecting u.s attempts to make deals with small groups they hoped for peace but prepared for war

01:52quiet british support supplies weapons and advice helped sustain their resistance the western confederacy

02:01became a formidable barrier to american ambitions the struggle for the northwest territory had truly begun

02:08president washington underestimated the western confederacy's strength in 1790 general harmar led over

02:181 400 men into ohio aiming to crush native resistance the campaign was a disaster militia were unruly and

02:26native warriors led by little turtle and blue jacket outmaneuvered them at every turn harmar's forces

02:32suffered ambushes and heavy losses culminating in a humiliating defeat nearly 200 americans died the

02:39confederacy's unity and skill stunned the nation news of harmar's defeat shocked the united states

02:45for the confederacy it was a powerful victory proof they could defend their homeland more warriors joined

02:51their cause and their resolve only grew the americans realized conquering the northwest would not be easy

02:57determined to restore american authority washington sent a larger force under arthur st clare in 1791

03:07st clare's army plagued by poor training and supplies camped near the wabash river exhausted and

03:14unprepared at dawn over 1 000 confederacy warriors led by little turtle and blue jacket launched a surprise

03:21attack the american militia broke and fled chaos erupted and the camp was overrun in three hours

03:27the army collapsed into a desperate retreat over 900 of st clare's 1 400 men were killed or wounded

03:34the worst defeat in u.s army history the loss was a national trauma sparking outrage and investigation

03:41for the confederacy it was their greatest victory their power and confidence peaked they believed they

03:47could stop american expansion the united states faced a crisis of credibility the native alliance seemed

03:53unstoppable the war's outcome was far from certain the stakes had never been higher

03:58st clare's defeat devastated president washington and threatened the nation's future determined to

04:06avoid a third disaster washington pushed congress to create a new professional army the legion of the

04:12united states this force would be well trained well supplied and led by a proven commander enter general

04:18anthony wayne mad anthony a bold revolutionary war veteran known for discipline and meticulous planning

04:25wayne understood that victory required more than courage it demanded preparation and unity he set out

04:31to build an army from the ground up refusing to rush into battle wayne's mission restore american honor

04:36and secure the northwest the failures of harmar and st clare would not be repeated the united states was

04:42preparing for a new kind of war the fate of the frontier hung in the balance wayne was determined to tip the scales

04:48general wayne established legionville transforming recruits into a disciplined force soldiers trained

04:57relentlessly marksmanship bayonet charges and field maneuvers became routine wayne enforced strict

05:03discipline building a culture of professionalism the u.s had never seen he adapted tactics for forest

05:09warfare emphasizing scouting and open order fighting to counter ambushes the legion was divided into flexible

05:16sub legions ready for any challenge wayne advanced slowly building forts to secure supply lines and

05:22assert american presence at the site of saint claire's defeat he built fort recovery a symbol of defiance and

05:28renewal in 1794 blue jacket led a major assault on the fort but wayne's disciplined troops held firm

05:36the confederacy suffered heavy losses their morale was shaken the americans had become a formidable force

05:42with fort recovery secure wayne marched deeper into confederacy territory toward the mommy river native

05:52leaders debated little turtle urged peace but blue jacket and others chose battle they set an ambush at

05:58fallen timbers using a tornado ravaged forest as cover on august 20th 1794 the confederacy attacked but

06:07wayne's legion responded with discipline and speed infantry charged with bayonets cavalry flanked the

06:13warriors the battle was brief and decisive the confederacy broke and fled seeking refuge at british

06:19held fort miami's the warriors found the gates closed british betrayal shattered native confidence

06:25the western confederacy's resistance collapsed the americans had won the decisive battle the war's end was near

06:30defeated at fallen timbers and abandoned by the british the confederacy's leaders faced starvation

06:39and ruin in 1795 over a thousand native delegates met general wayne at fort greenville to negotiate

06:47peace the treaty of greenville forced the confederacy to cede vast lands most of ohio the future site of

06:53chicago and more in return they received goods and a promise of annual payments the new boundary the

07:00greenville treaty line was meant to separate native and american lands for the u.s it was a monumental

07:05victory opening the northwest to settlement for native peoples it was a disaster loss of homeland

07:10and the end of united resistance the treaty's permanent line proved temporary a new era of land loss and

07:16forced removals had begun the northwest indian war is often overlooked but its impact was profound

07:25early defeats forced the u.s to build a professional army and assert federal power in the west for native

07:31nations it was a story of unity skill and heartbreaking loss the western confederacy's resistance was the

07:37high water mark of native power in the region the treaty of greenville began a cycle conflict defeat and

07:44land session repeated across the continent the war shattered hopes for a permanent native homeland east of

07:50the mississippi remembering this war reveals the true cost of american expansion and the enduring

07:56strength of those who fought to protect their world it is a chapter we cannot afford to forget

The Northwest Indian War (1785–1795) – America’s First Indian War | Full History Documentary

Category

Transcript

Recommended