Native Americans used various forms of Guerilla warfare such as tactics, weather, and terrain to their advantage when facing United States (U.S.) Military. Guerilla warfare is a form of tactics used by an adversary against prodigious conventional military force. The disadvantages in numbers, tactics, and weapons systems would encourage significant failures in facing such a powerful enemy in open battle. The U.S. Military after the civil war confronted this new way of fighting for the first time within the western territories. The uprising by the Indians indicated that the Military leadership viewed the Native Americans as savages and did not recognize the underlying culture differences of the Indians. Another contributing factor in a prolonged war understanding the weather and terrain and how their inadequate preparations to fight this new form of war against the Indians in battle. During the American Indian Wars, the United States military employed different strategies, weaponry, and additional forces appropriate to force the American Indians to negotiations. However, this did not end the war quickly but provided an advantage for Military forces in obtaining the upper hand over the Indian and their Guerilla tactics. The effects of culture, terrain, weather, and tactics encountered during the American Indian Wars hindered U.S. forces in defeating the American Indians.
U.S. Military hindered by Indian Guerilla Tactics
When understanding the types Guerilla warfare tactics dates back to the earliest recorded history and continues today, as it will in the future. A formidable strategy used against the military by the Native Americans to preserve their way of life. After the Civil War in 1865, U.S. settlements exceeded their capacity to support the inhabitants of the U.S. The greed for land commerce and adventure became increasingly alluring due to the lack of habitat for settlements and the aftermath of war. Thus, the great push by settlers west and with this loss of Native Americans livelihood leaving no options for the Indians except to surrender or battle. The Indians for centuries lived off the land, understood their local adversaries, and utilized their battles with adjacent tribes to master the art of Guerilla tactics. The U.S. Government weary of war wanted nothing less but a peaceful resolve between the Military, Setters, and Indians. The Government's concept was to relocate Native Americans to reservations and provide prime land for increasing settlements westward. Thus, the bureau of Indian affairs would handle all matters dealing with Indian treaties, negotiations, and reservation matters. However, sympathetic the governments intentions this gave way to Military aggressiveness against Indians when threatening to stop expansion of the frontier. The effects of culture, terrain, weather, and tactics encountered during the American Indian Wars hindered U.S. forces in defeating the American Indians.
Effects of Culture...