Glossary of Key Terms

TermDefinition
American Civil WarFrom 1861 to 1865 this intrastate Civil War occurred in the United States, where two separate factions fought against one another: The Union (the United States) and the Cofederate States of America.
Andrew JacksonServing as the 7th President of the United States throuh the Democratic - Republican Party in the early 19th century, President Jackson initiated the Indian Removal Act from 1838 to 1839.
Anglo Americans Individuals who are from European, typically of British, decent who migrated to the United States or were born in the United States due to this process of migration are referred to as Anglo Americans.
Bands A Band refers to a smaller group of Indians who live in a certain location together and that belong to a much larger, culturally unified group overall.
The Caddoan Indians This group of Native Americans is comprised of several Southeastern groups who were primarily located in the state of Texas.
The Comanche Indians The Comache Indians are a group of Native Americans who once lived in the areas ranging from the southern Great Plains throughout western Kansas to northern Texas, but are now located in the Oklahoma.
The Coronado Expedition Led by Francisco Vázquez de Coronado y Luján, the Coronado Expedition took place from 1510 - 1554. This expedition explored parts of Mexico to Kansas as well as other parts of the southwestern region of the United States.
Forced MigrationThe term forced migration is used to describe the movement of refugees or internally displaced people who are affected by conflicts within their countries borders. Forced migration is not limited to instrastate conflict, but can be affected by natural disasters, among others such as nuclear, chemical, and environmental disasters for example.
Fort SillMilitary post located north of Lawton, Oklahoma.
Indian Removal ActThe Indian Removal act was authorized and signed into law in 1830 by President Andrew Jackson. The Indian Removal Act essentially called for the removal of the Indians who currently inhabited the land within existing states borders, and were to relocated to territories west of the Mississippi River. Some of the Indians moved willingly, while others did not and were essentially forced to move.
Indian Reservations An Indian Reservation is a federally protected area, or territory, that belongs to Native Americans. This land can be found in areas of the United States, the most commonly known is that of the area located in the state of Oklahoma.
Jean Baptiste Benard de la Harpe Jean Baptiste Benard de la Harpe was a French officer, trader, and explorer.
Migration Migration is the process of moving from one geographical location to another and should not be confused with immigration since this process takes place within the boundary lines of one specific state or country, and does not cause flow into a foreign area.
Native Americans Native Americans are the indigenous people of the United States.
Northern Frontier The Northern Frontier typically refers to what can be considered a the border land that often distinguishes one state's land from another for example.
Red RiverThe Red River is a waterway that flows from Texas and Oklahoma into the Mississippi River.
Santa Cruz de San Saba Mission The Santa Cruz de San Saba Mission was one of the Spanish Missions that was located in the state of Texas.This was the only mission that was completely destroyed by Native Americans.
Santa Fe Expedition The Santa Fe Expedition was an expedition that was started by the President of Texas in 1841; its purpose was to further develop trade relations between Texas and New Mexico.
Settlers A settler is an individual who installs themselves into a location that previously has little or no current population to be accounted for in that area.
Trail of TearsAs a result of the Indian Removal Act, the Trail of Tears was the route that designated the forced path of migration to be utilized by the Indians. The Indians were forcibly removed from their land and consequently traveled on foot to land west of the Mississippi River, which was their new designated land of residence.
TribesA Tribe is unified by the social, cultural, or blood related identities created by their communities. A tribe is additionally what sets apart a group of Native Americans from another. For example, the Caddoan Tribes and the Wichita Tribes differ in many aspects of their respective cultures.
VillageA village is a group of homes or buildings that create a community for a specific group of people to live in; villages were incredibly important to the Indian population in the sense that this was what could be compared to a small town.
The Wichita Indians The subjects of our study, the Wichita Indians were a confederation of the Midwestern Native Americans. This group of Native Americans are indigenous to the states of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
The Wichita Mountains Located across the state of Oklahoma and a small fraction of Northern Texas, the Wichita Mountains is home to a large range of wildlife, mountain ranges, lakes, and represent an important part of the terrain in Oklahoma.

Tools to use Throughout the Site:

The following is a list of tools found throughout the site that will enhance the experience and perusal of the site.
  1. Gallery of Photographs
    • Instructions for Galleries
  2. Hyperlinks
    • Text with Links
  3. Maps
    • Keys for Maps
  4. Storymap JS
    • Key for Storymap JS
  5. Tables with Information
    • Instructions for Tables

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