The Great Chiefs Trivia Quiz

Answer: Lakota (Sioux)

In 1868, Red Cloud won a war (Red Cloud's War) against the United States and forced them to abandon building the Bozeman Trail through Montana. He then went onto the reservation where he stayed. Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull later wiped out George Armstrong Custer and his Seventh Cavalry in 1876.

Answer: Apache (Chiricahua)

Cochise was a leader of the Chiricahua Apaches against U.S. forces in the 1860s, eventually surrendering in 1871.

Mainly a people of nomadic bands, the Apache were nonetheless restricted to reservations after the U.S. Civil War. Geronimo made a name for himself by refusing to accept reservation life and leading small groups of "hostiles" in locations between Arizona and Mexico. His final surrender came in 1886.

Answer: Seminole

Osceola fought in the War of 1812, in 1818 against American troops under Andrew Jackson, and in the Second Seminole War in 1836. He never signed a treaty with the U.S. and never surrendered, but was captured by deception under a flag of truce in 1837.

Answer: Ottawa

Pontiac allied with the French in their attempts to drive the British out of the Old Northwest in the French and Indian War. He attempted to build a Native confederacy and was known for an attack on Fort Detroit that ended in failure when the French support that Pontiac had counted on was not forthcoming.

He was assassinated in 1769 by a Peoria warrior. Today a statue of him stands in the City Hall lobby in Pontiac, Michigan, and there are also cities named for him in Illinois and Quebec.

Answer: Wampanoag

Massasoit was the Wampanoag sachem who helped the Pilgrims. Metacomet, known to the English as King Philip, was Massasoit's son. After the death of his father, Metacomet, alarmed with the spread of white settlements, decided to get rid of the newcomers and initiated a war to do so. Known as King Philip's War, the engagements lasted from 1675 until Metacomet's death in August of 1676.

Answer: Comanche

Quanah Parker was the son of Cynthia Ann Parker, who had been captured by Comanches when she was 9 years old and became the wife of Comanche chief Peta Nocona. One of the last great Comanche chiefs, Quanah was successful in bridging the gap between Native and white cultures after his surrender as a warrior.

Founder and leader of the Native American Church, he made several agreements with the United States Government which benefited both whites and, especially, the Comanches. Several locations, including lakes, trails, schools, and towns, as well as a railroad, are named for him in Texas and Oklahoma.

Answer: Nez Perce

Chief Joseph was noted for attempting to lead a large band of Nez Perce from their reservation to freedom in Canada across 1,170 miles over the course of three months. His attempt fell short of their goal by about 40 miles. Joseph's skill in fighting an overwhelming force in his retreat has been recognized as outstanding, and his tactics are taught still today in military schools, including West Point.

Answer: Pueblo

Popé was the leader of the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, which successfully drove the Spanish out of New Mexico after they had taken refuge in the Governor's Palace in Santa Fe. The Pueblo towns of the Rio Grande remained free of Spanish control for about 12 years.

Answer: Shawnee

Blue Jacket fought alongside Miami chief Little Turtle against the U.S. in the 1791 defeat of Arthur St. Clair's forces, in the worst defeat ever inflicted on the United States Army in its long series of wars against Native Americans. Three years later Blue Jacket led the Shawnee at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, being defeated at the hands of "Mad" Anthony Wayne.

Tecumseh organized a Shawnee-led confederacy which also fought in the Northwest Territory against U.S. forces prior to and during the War of 1812.

Answer: Sauk (Sac and Fox)

Black Hawk led the Sac and Fox along the Mississippi in a war against the United States in an attempt the illegal takeover of tribal lands. The brief conflict lasted from May to August in 1832 and ended in defeat for the Native side. Included among the white combatants were Abraham Lincoln, Zachary Taylor, Jefferson Davis, and Winfield Scott. Black Hawk became a prisoner of war and later met with Andrew Jackson before becoming somewhat of a celebrity, touring the East.