User:Historian11233/Mariposa War

Old Lead

The Mariposa War was a part of the broader historical context of the California genocide and the American Indian Wars. The United States government, California state government, and non-indigenous settlers implemented policies of displacement, forced removals, and genocide of Native American tribes during this period.

New Lead

The Mariposa War was a part of the broader historical context of the California genocide and the American Indian Wars. The California genocide is one of reprehensible chapters in the states history. The broader historical context the Mariposa War was also apart of the idea of the "Indian Problem" that took place during the California genocide and the American Indian Wars. Many white American settlers thought it was time to get rid of Native Americans. They were assisted by the government, which considered the so-called “Indian Problem” to be one of the biggest threats to its sovereignty. The United States government, California state government, and non-indigenous settlers implemented policies of displacement, forced removals, and genocide of Native American tribes during this period. The legal basis for enslaving California’s native people was effectively enshrined into law at the first session of the state legislature, where officials gave white settlers the right to take custody of Native American children.

Old Background

The cause of the conflict was the California Gold Rush. After the discovery of gold on January 24, 1848, an overland route very quickly developed southward to Sutter's Mill from the Oregon Trail at Fort Hall in Oregon Country (now Idaho). By the end of May 1849, more than 40,000 gold seekers had used the California Trail to enter northern and central California which had been up until then populated by Native Americans and Californios (the descendants of early Spanish settlers). In three years, the non-Native American population rose from 14,000 in 1848 to 200,000 in 1852. Immigrants had come from Mexico, South America, Europe, Australia, and China. In three years, the non-Native American population rose from 14,000 in 1848 to 200,000 in 1852. Immigrants had come from Mexico, South America, Europe, Australia, and China.

Miners searching for gold forced Native Americans off their historic lands. Many others were pressed into service in the mines; others had their villages raided by the army and volunteer militia. In December 1850, the Ahwahneechees and the Chowchilla in the Sierra Nevada and San Joaquin Valley fought back leading a raid on the Fresno River post of James D. Savage.

With the support of Mariposa County Sheriff James Burney, Savage led a militia of seventy four men in a retaliatory attack against a Chowchilla camp on the Fresno River near present-day Oakhurst, California on January 11, 1851. The militia attacked with rifles at daylight but were surprised when the Chowchilla returned fire with rifles and pistols of their own. Surprised and unprepared, Savage's forces staggered and dispersed, resulting in a victory for the Native Americans in what would become known as the first battle of the Mariposa War.

New Background

The California Gold Rush was the conflict that caused the California genocide. Gold! Gold from the American River!” Samuel Brannan walked up and down the streets of San Francisco, holding up a bottle of pure gold dust. His triumphant announcement, and the discovery of gold at nearby Sutter’s Mill in 1848, ushered in a new era for California—one in which millions of settlers rushed to the little-known frontier in a wild race for riches. By the end of May 1849, more than 40,000 gold seekers had used the California Trail to enter northern and central California which had been up until then populated by Native Americans and Californios (the descendants of early Spanish settlers). In two decades 80 percent of Californias Native American population was wiped out. Many California natives died from their land being seized by white settlers or the diseases brought from the new settlers, and about 9,000 from 16,000 were murdered in cold blood. In three years, the non-Native American population rose from 14,000 in 1848 to 200,000 in 1852. Immigrants had come from Mexico, South America, Europe, Australia, and China.

Miners digging for gold forced Native Americans off their historic lands. Others were pressed into service in the mines; others had their villages raided by the army and volunteer militia. White settlers also thought it was time to get rid of Native Americans due to the fact they thought took up too much labor in the mines. They were assisted by the government, which considered the so-called “Indian Problem” to be one of the biggest threats to its sovereignty. The legal basis for enslaving California’s native people was effectively enshrined into law at the first session of the state legislature, where officials gave white settlers the right to take custody of Native American children. The law also gave white people the right to arrest Native people for minor offenses like loitering or possessing alcohol and made it possible for whites to put Native Americans convicted of crimes to work to pay off the fines they incurred.

California's first Governor Peter Hardenman Burnett saw indigenous Californians as lazy, savage and dangerous. He also said, “That a war of extermination will continue to be waged between the races until the Indian race becomes extinct must be expected,” he told legislators in the second state of the state address in 1851. “While we cannot anticipate this result but with painful regret, the inevitable destiny of the race is beyond the power or wisdom of man to avert.” Mariposa County Sheriff James Burney, Savage led a militia of seventy four men in a retaliatory attack against a Chowchilla camp on the Fresno River near present-day Oakhurst, California on January 11, 1851. The militia attacked with rifles at daylight but were surprised when the Chowchilla returned fire with rifles and pistols of their own. Surprised and unprepared, Savage's forces staggered and dispersed, resulting in a victory for the Native Americans in what would become known as the first battle of the Mariposa War.

Old WAR

Burney made an appeal to John McDougal, the second Governor of California. This led to the creation of the Mariposa Battalion, a Californian State Militia, under "Major" James D. Savage. At least one-fifth of the volunteers were Texans and had served previously under Colonel Jack Hays during the Mexican-American War. Its commands were:

Besides the military, officials from the Federal Indian commission sought a peaceful solution. On March 19, 1851, the Commissioners signed a treaty at Camp Fremont aside Mariposa Creek with six tribes. However, as the Ahwahneechees and Chowchillas were absent from the talks, a military campaign was launched against them the same day

New War

Sheriff James Burney made an appeal to John McDougal, the second Governor of California, which led to the creation of the Mariposa Battalion. The California State Militia that was a band of volunteers formed the Mariposa Battalion, sanctioned by the state of California, to rid the area of the perceived threat of Indians. When they entered Yosemite Valley, they systematically burned villages and food supplies and forced men, women, and children away from their homes. When the Indians returned, Yosemite was no longer theirs. At least one-fifth of the volunteers were Texans and had served previously under Colonel Jack Hays during the Mexican-American War. Its commands were:

Old Second Campaign

On April 13, a new campaign against the Chowchilla was launched. Although units from the Mariposa Battalion destroyed the tribe's food stores, most Native Americans were able to elude the militias. However, with the death of their chief, the remaining Chowchilla surrendered and were transported onto a reservation.

New Second Campaign

New Assimilation Boarding Schools

The United States government forced thousands of native American children to attend boarding schools in the late 19th century. As the white population grew in 1800s and people were moving out west, the government was running out of places to move native Americans. During this time the Indian Removal Act was in effect and Indians were getting pushed out of their homes by white settlers. Since the government was running out of room and ideas to send the natives they created assimilation boarding schools. These schools did not allow native American children speak in their own language, used their native names. The native American children were being acclimated to the anglo American culture.