What changed Quanah Parker from a steadfast advocate of prolonged warfare to a man who worked with the Americans to encourage co-existence?
While he spent the better part of his life fighting the American government and white settlement in Comanche territory, Quanah Parker underwent a drastic change is his personal outlook. His change of thought came only after a long, futile struggle to offset white expansion into Indian territory. While his military efforts did not succeed in curtailing white expansion, they did manage to demonstrate that the Comanche would not go quietly into the night. Forming an international (or inter-tribal) coalition, he made a last stand against the domination of his people. When it came time to stop the fighting, Quanah Parker retained his intrinsic beliefs and became of symbol of Comanche pride. Learning the language of the aggressor, Parker bridged the gap between two worlds and helped to secure vital funds that improved reservation life for his nation. His personal growth was the result of years of fighting against the very people he would eventually work with. Parker was a new generation of Indian leader; he maintained his rich heritage but also worked with the difficult situation to preserve the Comanche nation.
