The purpose of this study was to assess the influence that Henry Knox had on the formation and the inplementation of American Indian policy during the period from 1786 to 1795. Henry Knox was Secretary of War under the Confederation government from 1786-1789. In 1786 his office was given statutory authority to deal with the Northern and Southern tribes on the frontier. In 1789 he was appointed Secretary of War in George Washington's cabinet with increased authority to deal with the Indians. This work deals only with the tribes and the territory in the Northern Department for a number of reasons. First, the geographical area involved is smaller and the tribes more varied than in the Southern Department. Second, in the Northern Department there was not the conflict of federal-state interests that complicated the acquisition of lands and the pacification of the Indians. Third, there can be seen in the Northern Department a continuation of British Indian policy as adopted and ramified by the United States, An examination of Indian treaties concerning this area and the concept of the Indians' right of soil brings into focus the problems that the United States faced when dealing with the tribes on the frontier.The research was planned to answer two questions. What were the vestiges of British and French Indian policy that were adopted by the American government in the period from 1786-1789? Second, what was Henry Knox's role in formulating Confederation and Federal Indian policy? Did he act as the sole agent for the formation of Indian policy or did he take his direction from George Washington and/or the Congress?The first part of the work develops the relationship between George Washington and Henry Knox. It traces the career of Knox during the American Revolution and emphasizes the close bond between Knox and Washington. It also examines the role that Henry Knox played in the negotiations with New England tribes before he became a member of the Confederation government,The second stage of the study concerns itself with British Indian policy from 1763-1775. It develops those threads of imperial control that were adopted and modified by American government with the outbreak of the American Revolution. Special consideration is given to the various demarcation lines, treaties, and organs of Indian control that marked British imperial rule.The involvement of Henry Knox in Indian policy began in 1786 with the reorganization of the Indian Department. The work examines the conditions on the frontier that Knox inherited from his predecessor. The treaties of Forts Stanwix, McIntosh and Finney are examined in detail to emphasize the unrest on the frontier from both Indians and whites. In this setting the efforts of Henry Knox to formulate consistent and just Indian policy is studied. The first stage of Henry Knox's career as a Cabinet Officer comes to an end with the formation of the Federal government. From 1789-1795, Henry Knox served as Secretary of War in the new government. He was given more authority by the administration to guide the conduct of Indian policy. This study deals at length with the problems that Knox encountered in his dealings with the Indians on the frontier and with the Cabinet members in Washington's government. The military defeats of Josiah Harmar and Arthur St. Clair at the hands of the Indians during this period are traced and evaluated as to their consequences on Knox's effectiveness as an administrator. The final solution to the Indian problem in the Northwest comes with Anthony Wayne's victory at Fallen Timbers in 1794. Knox's contributions to this effort and his legacy to future Indian policy are evaluated in the final portion of this study.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/175984 |
| Date | January 1970 |
| Creators | Dyer, Weston A. |
| Contributors | Anson, Bert |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | vi, 183 leaves ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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