INDIAN TERRITORY

INDIAN TERRITORY
   Historically, as the Westward Movement progressed after the Civil War, more and more territory of the Great Plains was opened for settlement. But the U.S. government knew that it would eventually have to find a permanent place for the displaced Native American tribes. As a result, the territory south of Kansas and north of Texas was designated Indian Territory. White settlers were not allowed. Inevitably, Indian Territory became a “no man’s land” where only the roughest of outlaws holed up. It was a land beyond the reach of the law. Jesse James, the Dalton gang, and Belle Starrwere just a few of the famous outlaws calling Indian Territory home. As Native American tribes were subdued, they were moved here, usually with great resistance.
   A reference in a Western to Indian Territory typically means that it is the place to escape to if the law is in pursuit. Films as diverse as True Grit (1969) and Hoppy Serves a Writ (1943) are based on this premise. Films sympathetic to Native Americans do not usually portray Indian Territory favorably. John Ford’s Cheyenne Autumn (1964) shows the Cheyenne tribe desperately trying to escape its reservation in Indian Territory because of the unbearable climate, terrain, and resultant living conditions. The Apaches in Geronimo:An American Legend (1993) fight fiercely against General Crook, not because they may be forced to live on a reservation but because they will be forced to live in Indian Territory. They finally surrender when they are promised a reservation in central Florida. They no sooner settle in Florida than they are forced to move back to Indian Territory. Even Indian Territory could not remain unsettled by whites forever, and the last Western territory made available for settlement was Indian Territory. It was opened through a series of land runs, the most famous being the Land Run of 1889, depicted in numerous Westerns including Tumbleweeds (1925) and Cimarron (1960), in which thousands of settlers lined up at the boundary set by the U.S. cavalry, and at noon, after the starting shot was fired, they all rushed into the new territory. The footage of the land run in Tumbleweeds was used in numerous Westerns thereafter. In 1907 Indian Territory became the state of Oklahoma.
   See also INDIANS.

Historical Dictionary of Westerns in Cinema. . 2012.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Indian Territory — (Gebiet der freien Indianer), dasjenige Gebiet der Vereinigten Staaten, welches von dem Gouvernement derselben den verschiedenen Indianerstämmen, die 1830 aus den Staaten östlich vom Mississippi nach dem Westen zurückgedrängt wurden, zum… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Indian Territory — Historical territory (1834 90) of the S U.S., reserved for Amerindian peoples: now a part of Oklahoma …   English World dictionary

  • Indian Territory — The Indian Territory, also known as The Indian Country, The Indian territory or the Indian territories, was land set aside within the United States for the use of Native Americans. The general borders were set by the Indian Intercourse Act of… …   Wikipedia

  • Indian Territory — a former territory of the U.S.: now in E Oklahoma. ab. 31,000 sq. mi. (80,000 sq. km). * * * Former territory, U.S. West, including most of modern Oklahoma. The Choctaw, Creek, Seminole, Cherokee, and Chickasaw tribes were forcibly moved to this… …   Universalium

  • Indian Territory — Territoire indien Le Territoire indien et le Territoire de l Oklahoma vers 1890. Le Territoire indien (en anglais: Indian Territory ou Indian Territories) est aussi connu sous les appellations de Pays indien ou Territoires indiens et désigne les… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Indian Territory — a former territory of the U.S.: now in E Oklahoma. ab. 31,000 sq. mi. (80,000 sq. km). * * * Indian Territory [Indian Territory] US land west of the ↑Mississippi River to which ↑Native Americans were forced to move in the 19th century. It was… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Indian Territory — Indian Ter|ri|to|ry an area of land west of the Mississippi River in the US, mainly in the state of Oklahoma, to which many Native Americans were forced to move in the middle of the 19th century. The land was later taken back from them by the US… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Indian Territory in the American Civil War — Confederate States in the American Civil War South Carolina Mississippi Florida Alabama …   Wikipedia

  • INDIAN TERRITORY —    (186), a stretch of country in the basin of the Arkansas, Canadian, and Red Rivers, with Kansas on the N., Arkansas on the E., Oklahoma Territory on the W., and separated by the Red River from Texas on the S., set apart for the occupation of… …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Indian territory — A former territory, now a part of the state of Oklahoma. See Indian country …   Ballentine's law dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”