The Creek tribe is a group of Native Americans originally from the regions now known as Alabama, Georgia, Florida and North Carolina.Native American Facts for Kids: Creek Indian Fact Sheet The Creek now live mainly in Oklahoma, though small groups remain on their traditional lands.Official Site (Oklahoma): Muscogee (Creek) Nation of OklahomaOfficial Site (Alabama): Poarch Creek IndiansOfficial Site (Florida): Muscogee Nation of Florida

The Creeks are believed to descend from the ancient Mound Builder culture that covered much of the southeastern United States.Lost Worlds: Ancient Architects of Georgia As such, their history traces back 4,000 years before the arrival of Europeans in North America.The Handbook of Texas Online: Creek Tribes

The first Europeans to encounter the Creeks were the Spanish.Our Georgia History: The Creek Indians of Georgia In the late 17th century, Dr. Henry Woodward encouraged the Creeks to turn against Spain and support British expansion in the region.Our Georgia History: The Age of Exploration in Georgia

Hoping to maintain their independence, the Creeks were divided as to whether they should remain neutral or support Great Britain or the United States during the American Revolutionary War.About North Georgia: History of the Creek Nation After the war, Alexander McGillivray led Creeks in opposition to American encroachments.New Georgia Encyclopedia: Alexander McGillivray (ca. 1750-1793)

By 1811, divisions among the Creeks erupted into civil war. Traditionalist Upper Creeks, known as Red Sticks, sought to maintain a traditional way of life; they opposed the Lower Creeks, who were more comfortable with American society.Red Stick Society: Red Stick Heritage Defeated by Andrew Jackson, the entire Creek nation was eventually forced to cede 22 million acres to the United States.PBS: Indian Removal

Anxious to take over remaining Creek lands in the southeast, the U.S. forced the Creeks to sign the Treaty of Indian Springs, ceding more land in Georgia, and agreeing to their relocation west of the Mississippi River.University of Georgia: Treaty of Indian Springs The treaty was voided the following year and replaced by the Treaty of Washington, ceding all land east of the Chattahoochee River.University of Georgia: Treaty of Washington By 1827, most Creeks had been relocated from Georgia and Alabama to the new Indian Territory.About North Georgia: History of the Creek Nation

• c. 800-1500: Emergence of the Missippian Mound Building culture, forerunners of the Creeks

• 1540: Spanish conquistadors first encounter the Creeks on St. Simon's Island

• 1685: Creeks and British expel the Spanish from southeastern North America

• 1715: Creeks fight encroachment by South Carolina in the Yamasee War

• 1733: Creeks grant Oglethorpe the right to settle Georgia in the Treaty of Savannah

• 1776: Creeks divided over support of the British or the Americans in the Revolutionary War

• 1782: Upon the death of Emistesigo, Alexander McGillivray becomes leader of the Creeks

• 1790: McGillivray travels to New York City to conclude the Treaty of New York

• 1813-1814: The Red Stick War. leads to the Treaty of Fort Jackson

• 1826: The Treaty of Washington leads to the cession of remaining Georgia Creek lands

• 1836: Alabama Creeks launch the Creek War, resulting in their removal to Indian Territory

• 1867: Oklahoma Creeks adopt a written constitution

• 1898: The Curtis Act ends Creek sovereignty in Oklahoma

• 1971: Creeks reassert their sovereignty, electing a principal chief without U.S. approval

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