Kansas 1800 to 1824

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Kansas is named after the clan that the Sioux called the Kansa meaning, "People of the South Wind". In the Osage language the word Kaw means "coward"; however, in the Kansa language it has no meaning. There is a possibility the US Government changed the name from Kansa to Kaw as a method to distinguish the Kansa tribe from the Kansas tribes. The Kaw male were easily recognized by their distinctive hair style; only one lock at the back of their head was not shaved which would be very similar in appearance to modern day Hari Krishna. They were a small tribe inhabiting the area along the Kansas and Saline Rivers. They lived a peaceful existence, which unfortunately changed dramatically with the arrival of the white man. In 1846 the tribe signed a treaty ceding two million acres of their reservation to the government and accepting a reservation at Council Grove. In 1873, they were again moved, this time to a reservation in Oklahoma.

In June and July 1804, the Lewis and Clark expedition traversed 120 miles through what is now north-east Kansas. They camped beside a small creek near an old Kansa village (near modern day Atchison). Being the 4th of July, the small stream was named Independence Creek; a name still in use today. They celebrated the first Independence Day east of the Mississippi by firing a canon.

In 1806, Zebulon M. Pike explored Kansas, signed treaties with natives and eventually "discovered" Pike's Peak. In 1814, General Pike visited and mapped the native's American's sacred ceremonial gathering place "Great Spirit Spring," Waconda Springs. The Kansa and other tribes worshipped Waucondah at this place. In 1964 it was bulldozed to create a dam and reservoir.

In September 1806, the first US flag was raised in Kansas. It was raised by Black Kettle, Chief of the Pawnee Tribe, to show his loyalty to the US. Even with the flag flying, John M. Chivington, attacked the Pawnee settlement in Sand Creek (now part of Colorado) on November 29th and murdered, mutilated and massacred over 200 of the tribe.

In 1821, William Becknell discovered the Santa Fe Trail. In 1825, at Council Oak, the US Government signed a treaty with the Osage granting the right-of-way for this trail. From 1822 to 1880 this trail was America's greatest overland trail route and was used for commerce between US and Mexico. Two-thirds of its 1208 km (750 mile) route was in Kansas.