Creek Country: The Creek Indians and Their World, 1796-1816

Reconstructing the human and natural environment of the Creek Indians in frontier Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, Robbie Ethridge illuminates a time of wrenching transition. Creek Country presents a compelling portrait of a culture in crisis, of its resiliency in the face of profound change, and of the forces that pushed it into decisive, destructive conflict. Ethridge begins in 1796 with the arrival of U.S. Indian Agent Benjamin Hawkins, whose tenure among the Creeks coincided with a period of increased federal intervention in tribal affairs, growing tension between Indians and non-Indians, and pronounced strife within the tribe. In a detailed description of Creek town life, the author reveals how social structures were stretched to accommodate increased engagement with whites and blacks. The Creek economy, long linked to the outside world through the deerskin trade, had begun to fail. Ethridge details the Creeks' efforts to diversify their economy, especially through experimental farming and ranching, and the ecological crisis that ensued. Disputes within the tribe culminated in the Red Stick War, a civil war among Creeks that quickly spilled over into conflict between Indians and white settlers and was ultimately used by U.S. authorities to justify their policy of Indian removal. Reconstructing The Human And Natural Environment Of The Creek Indians In Frontier Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, And Tennessee, The Author Illuminates A Time Of Wrenching Transition. Creek Country Presents A Compelling Portrait Of A Culture In Crisis, Of Its Resiliency In The Face Of Profound Change, And Of The Forces That Pushed It Into Decisive, Destructive Conflict. Benjamin Hawkins In Creek Country -- The Beginnings Of Creek Country: A Historical Overview -- The Landscape Of Creek Country -- The Heart Of Creek Country -- The People Of Creek Country -- The Hinterlands -- Creek Farmers -- Creek Ranchers -- Entrepreneurs, Wage Laborers, Thieves, And The Creek Frontier Exchange Economy -- The Selling Of Creek Country -- The Closing Of Creek Country. Robbie Ethridge. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [327]-355) And Index. Benjamin Hawkins in Creek country -- -- The beginnings of Creek country: a historical overview -- -- The landscape of Creek country -- -- The heart of Creek country -- -- The people of Creek country -- -- The hinterlands -- Creek farmers -- Creek ranchers -- Entrepreneurs, wage laborers, thieves, and the frontier exchange economy of Creek country -- -- The selling of Creek country -- -- The closing of Creek country. Reconstructing the human and natural environment of the Creek Indians in frontier Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, Ethridge presents a compelling portrait of a culture in economic, political, and ecological crisis; of its resiliency in the face of profound change; and of the forces that pushed it into decisive, destructive conflict In 1774 a large rattlesnake slid into the camp of some Seminole traders and their families outside a small Indian town where Spalding's Lower Store was located on the St. John's River in northeastern Florida.