Changes

==Origins==

==Origins==

The Creek Indians of Georgia and Alabama were divided into two factions: the Upper Creeks (or Red Sticks)<ref> The Creeks used a bundle of sticks to send a message to another tribe; red sticks meant war, with the number of sticks equaling the number of days before the war would begin. White sticks meant peace.</ref> in the west, who opposed the Americans and sided with the British and Spanish during the War of 1812, and the Lower Creeks in the east, ("White Sticks") who tried to remain on good terms with the Americans. At issue was assimilation into American society, which was embraced by the Lower Creeks and violently rejected by the Upper Creeks. the latter had experienced a pagan religious revival which taught them that all whites (and half-breed children with one Indian parent and one white parent) were evil and had to be destroyed.  Numerous prophets arose among the Red Sticks, inciting them to war.

The Creek Indians of Georgia and Alabama were divided into two factions: the Upper Creeks (or Red Sticks)<ref>The Creeks used a bundle of sticks to send a message to another tribe; red sticks meant war, with the number of sticks equaling the number of days before the war would begin. White sticks meant peace.</ref> in the west, who opposed the Americans and sided with the British and Spanish during the War of 1812, and the Lower Creeks in the east, ("White Sticks") who tried to remain on good terms with the Americans. At issue was assimilation into American society, which was embraced by the Lower Creeks and violently rejected by the Upper Creeks. the latter had experienced a pagan religious revival which taught them that all whites (and half-breed children with one Indian parent and one white parent) were evil and had to be destroyed.  Numerous prophets arose among the Red Sticks, inciting them to war.

Shawnee leader [[Tecumseh]] visited Creek towns in 1811-12 and persuaded the Upper Creeks to join a general Indian war on the Americans, promising support from Britain. While the Upper Creeks began to raid American settlements, the Lower Creeks helped the Americans to capture and punish leading raiders, often becoming casualties of revenge themselves.

Shawnee leader [[Tecumseh]] visited Creek towns in 1811-12 and persuaded the Upper Creeks to join a general Indian war on the Americans, promising support from Britain. While the Upper Creeks began to raid American settlements, the Lower Creeks helped the Americans to capture and punish leading raiders, often becoming casualties of revenge themselves.

==Fort Mims Massacre==

==Fort Mims Massacre==

After the Red Sticks murdered more than five hundred white settlers at Fort Mims, it was war to the death on the frontier.<ref> Frank L., Owsley Jr., "The Fort Mims Massacre," ''Alabama Review'' 1971 24(3): 192-204</ref>

After the Red Sticks murdered more than five hundred white settlers at Fort Mims, it was war to the death on the frontier.<ref>Frank L., Owsley Jr., "The Fort Mims Massacre," ''Alabama Review'' 1971 24(3): 192-204</ref>

</ref> Following a successful attack on a white expedition at the Battle of Burnt Corn, the Red Sticks decided to attack and destroy Fort Mims in the Mississippi Territory.  Hundreds of white and half-breed families had sought protection there. The fort was badly defended because of gross negligence, poor scouting, an attack at noon when most of the garrison was eating, seizure of the port holes by the Indians, and inability to close the main gates. On Aug. 30, 1813, the Indians attacked. Of the 275 to 300 whites and half-breeds in the fort about 30 escaped and the rest were killed during the battle or scalped and killed immediately after it. The Red Sticks lost about 100 killed.   

</ref> Following a successful attack on a white expedition at the Battle of Burnt Corn, the Red Sticks decided to attack and destroy Fort Mims in the Mississippi Territory.  Hundreds of white and half-breed families had sought protection there. The fort was badly defended because of gross negligence, poor scouting, an attack at noon when most of the garrison was eating, seizure of the port holes by the Indians, and inability to close the main gates. On Aug. 30, 1813, the Indians attacked. Of the 275 to 300 whites and half-breeds in the fort about 30 escaped and the rest were killed during the battle or scalped and killed immediately after it. The Red Sticks lost about 100 killed.   

==Horseshoe bend==

==Horseshoe bend==

<references/>

<references/>

[[category:War of 1812]]

[[Category:War of 1812]]

[[category:Indian Wars]]

[[Category:Indian Wars]]