Natives versus Army: the Arikara War of 1823
Settlement and exploration of the west not only disrupted the home and hunting ranges of Native tribe and dismantled their society and culture, it also disrupted relations between tribes themselves, causing further damage to Native society. The Arikara War of 1837 is a prime example. This War serves as a backdrop to the story of trapper Hugh Glass, told in the 2015 movie The Revenant . Trappers who spent their lives in the wilderness were constantly at risk of attack from Natives. The Natives were not only defending their home and hunting range from trespassers, but also defending their livelihoods in other ways. Many tribes had become partially dependent on the fur trade with Europeans in North America. A freelancing trapper, or one working for a rival company, was a threat that had to be dealt with severely. In 1823, Arikara warriors assaulted a trapping party working for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, killing 15. The U.S. responded with a ...