Kentucky Case

Kentucky comes from Iroquoian Indian word "Kentake," meaning "meadow land," but the Iroquois Indians were not the original inhabitants. Before the Europeans arrived in Kentucky, there were many Indian tribes occupying the land. Amongst these Indian tribes were the Shawnee, Cherokee, Chicksaw, and Yuchi tribes. Each tribe claimed a different portion of Kentucky's land. The Shawnee claimed the northern section of the land, the Cherokee claimed the southeast, the Chickasaw claimed the westernmost land, and the Yuchi claimed part of the south, where they settled in a town on a river which appears to be identical with Green River.

The Shawnee Indian tribe played a huge role in the early days of Kentucky. Even though Shawnee means "southerner," the tribe occupied the northern portion of the land. The reason for this is because the Iroquois forced the Shawnee out of Ohio causing them to move south to northern Kentucky. This put them near the Ohio River Valley, causing them to become mound builders to prevent damage to their belongings from flooding. The Shawnees celebrated their accomplishments by having special ceremonies. In their ceremonies, they did different dances for different agricultural achievements. They performed the spring bread dance at planting time, the green corn dance when crops ripened, and the autumn bread dance to celebrate the harvest.

The Cherokee tribe occupied the southeastern portion of Kentucky. The tribe usually dressed in traditional clothing, such as moccasins and breech cloth. When it became colder, they would add leggings and hunting jackets. The men of the Cherokee shaved their heads leaving a topknot and their faces and bodies were usually tattooed. The tribe ate mostly wild meat from hunting, corn and beans, pumpkins, dried fruits, and nuts. The Cherokee lived in cabins made of log in the summer and lived in smaller circular houses in the winter to stay warm. The tribe was separated into several sections that were each controlled by a chief. The Cherokees were also very religious and spiritual.

The Chickasaw Indian tribe lived in the westernmost part of Kentucky, near the Mississippi River. Even though the tribe was smaller than most Indian tribes, they were very orderly. Along with being organized, the Chickasaw were also very religious and relied on their faith for healing. The tribe's main food source was fish, which they caught from the Mississippi. Most of their clothing was made out of Buckskin and the men wore high boots. Both men and women of the tribe had long hair, and some wore war paint and had extensive tattooing.

The European settlers came to Kentucky around the 1540's. Historians are not sure whether the French or the British were the first to arrive in Kentucky, but they were both attempting to control the Ohio River Valley. The Ohio River Valley was very rich for farming and the Ohio River provided transportation and access