From the earliest European visitors to the period of Westward Expansion, white settlers encountered American Indians. Although many of these meetings were peaceful, the cultures often clashed, resulting in hundreds of battles and skirmishes between the Indians and pioneers encroaching on their lands, as well as conflicts between the tribes and the U.S. Army. Although confrontations with the Indians had been occurring since the first European explorers and settlers set foot on American soil, the “Indian War period” is generally considered to have occurred between 1866 and 1890. These many conflicts are often overshadowed by other periods of U.S. history.

Many of the places where these battles occurred have been designated as National Historic Sites and state parks. Others are designated with a historical marker.

Military Campaigns: 

Old Northwest War – 1790-1795
Tippecanoe – 1811
Creek – 1813-1814, 1836
Seminole – 1817-1819, 1835-1842, 1855-1858
Black Hawk – 1832
Comanche – 1867-1875
Modoc – 1872-1873
Apache – 1873, 1885-1886
Little Bighorn – 1876-1877
Nez Perce – 1877
Bannock – 1878
Cheyenne 1878-1879
Ute – 1879-1880
Pine Ridge – 1890-1891

Conflicts by State:

Alabama
Arizona
California
Colorado
Idaho
Kansas
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Mexico
Ohio
Oklahoma
South Dakota
Texas
Utah
Washington
Wyoming

©Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated September 2025.

Also See:

Indian Proverbs & Wisdom

Legends, Myths & Tales of Native Americans

Old West Legends

Native American Heroes