Creek Country - by Robbie Ethridge (Paperback)

About the Book

Creek Country: The Creek Indians and Their World

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"A fascinating perspective on cultural exchanges between southeastern Creeks and other Americans, emphasizing the ecological context in which the exchanges occurred."
-- "Journal of American History"

"Important and engaging. A welcome addition to a burgeoning body of work."
-- "Mississippi Quarterly"

"Paints a vivid portrait of Creek society and culture in the early nineteenth century. . . . Well-written, free from jargon, and accessible to readers who are not experts in the field. Consequently, Ethridge's examination of the Creek world will be of considerable value for anyone interested in Indian ethnohistory or the history of the American south."
-- "Journal of Southern History"

"The creative use of an array of sources . . . makes this book a remarkable contribution."
-- "American Historical Review"