How did the seminole react differently from cherokee and choctaw when the united states government wanted them to move west
The Seminole tribe reacted differently from the Cherokee and Choctaw tribes when the United States government wanted them to move west. Unlike the Cherokee and Choctaw tribes who faced forced removal and relocation through the Indian Removal Act, the Seminole tribe fiercely resisted relocation and engaged in a prolonged and bloody conflict with the U.S. government. This conflict is known as the Second Seminole War (1835-1842).
The Seminole tribe, composed of Native Americans, Black Seminoles, and escaped slaves, had established a successful and self-sufficient society in Florida. They had developed strong economic ties with the region and had no intention of leaving their homes voluntarily. When the United States government attempted to negotiate treaties for their removal, the Seminole leaders refused to comply.
In response to their defiance, the U.S. government initiated military campaigns to force the Seminole tribe out of Florida. However, the Seminoles displayed strong resistance and guerrilla warfare tactics, using the dense forests and swamps of Florida to their advantage. They launched ambushes, raids, and hit-and-run attacks on the U.S. troops, making it difficult for the military to defeat them.
The Seminoles also received support from other Native American tribes, escaped slaves, and sympathetic white allies known as "Seminole sympathizers." This support further complicated the U.S. government's efforts to remove the Seminole tribe.
The Second Seminole War continued for several years, resulting in numerous casualties on both sides. Despite the U.S. government's determination and the deployment of significant military resources, they were unable to fully defeat or relocate the Seminoles. Eventually, both sides grew exhausted and strained financially from the prolonged conflict. The war ended with a peace treaty in 1842, which allowed some Seminoles to remain in Florida, although many were forcibly removed to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) later on.
The Seminole tribe's fierce resistance and unwillingness to move west distinguished their response from the Cherokee and Choctaw tribes. While both the Cherokee and Choctaw tribes also experienced forced removal and displacement, they lacked the military capabilities and cohesion displayed by the Seminole tribes during their resistance efforts.