Black Hawk’s views on the exchange of land are at the heart of his motivation for waging a prolonged personal war against American settlers in Illinois. To Black Hawk, the settlers were the vanguard of an illegal occupation of the Sauk and Fox homeland. Like many of his contemporaries, Black Hawk believed that no one could own the land. The Sauk and Fox had occupied Illinois for well over a century but they did not own it. Since the Sauk and Fox did not own the land, no treaty could authorize the sale of that land to the United States. The rapid influx of white settlers, the agreements negotiated by Keokuk and his allies authorizing additional land cessions, and the ebbing away of native domain conspired to enrage this Sauk warrior and many like him. The fact that Illinois became a state in 1818 meant nothing to Black Hawk and those who supported him, as they viewed the settlers as nothing more than a occupation force.
At Odds
While Black Hawk consolidated his power throughout 1830, Keokuk worked to appease the American government by advocating a neutral stance. As Black Hawk fought to push the settlers out, Keokuk urged his allies to relocate to new lands west of the Mississippi River. Both men moved quickly to gain the support of the unaligned Sauk and Fox communities. As Keokuk preached a peaceful coexistence with the Americans and the state of Illinois, Black Hawk encouraged those communities to join him. By 1831, each had become a focal point for the other’s endeavors.
Keokuk Criticized
For his cooperation, Keokuk was held in high esteem by leaders of both the state and federal government. In addition to officially recognizing him as the principal leader of the Sauk and Fox, American negotiators also offered Keokuk large tracts of reservation land for his personal use and an annual stipend. Regardless of his motivations, by accepting these gifts Keokuk drew the criticism of many who felt that he had given in to the Americans too easily. By signing the Treaty of Portages des Sioux and acknowledging the sale of Illinois, Keokuk had accepted the annexation of the Sauk and Fox homeland.
The Coming Storm
The result was a great schism within the Sauk and Fox union, with some community leaders supporting Black Hawk and others allying with Keokuk. While Keokuk gained support among the majority of the civil leadership of the Sauk and Fox, Black Hawk was popular among the warriors. Even those civil leaders who accepted neutrality and worked to avoid becoming embroiled in a war with the United States could not stop the small groups of warriors who left to join the British Band. As his numbers grew, Black Hawk became more of a concern for the people of Illinois.
Sources:
Mark M. Boatner III, Encyclopedia of the American Revolution. (Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books, 1994).
Mark C Carnes, Ed. U.S. History. (New York: MacMillan Library Reference, 1998).
Peter Matthiessen, ed. George Catlin: North American Indians. (New York: Penguin Group, 1989).
Marilyn Miller and Martin Faux, American History Desk Reference. (New York: MacMillan, 1997).
Carl Waldman, Atlas of the North American Indian. (New York: Checkmark Books, 2000).
Carl Waldman, Encyclopedia of Native Tribes. (New York: Checkmark Books, 2006).
Opposing
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