Chief Joseph: Thunder Rolling Down The Mountain

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Chief Joseph was a great warrior and leader who fought for peace and freedom for the Nez Perce people. He got the name Joseph from his father, Joseph the Elder who accepted Christianity two years before he was born. The name he was given at birth was Hinmatóowyalahtq̓it which means, Thunder Rolling Down The Mountain. Joseph the Younger was born on March 3, 1840 in Wallowa Valley, Oregon.

When Chief Joseph’s father died in 1871, the tribe elected him chief. When he was a young boy there was peace between his tribe and the federal government. But, when people found gold on the nez perce land, the government took away six million acres of their land and tried to force them on a small reservation in Idaho. This caused tension between the nez perce and the federal government. This had been going on for almost ten years when chief joseph became chief.

Chief Joseph wanted to keep peace between the indians and the federal government, so he lead his people to Idaho. Before he and his people reached Idaho a band of young nez perce warriors were upset about the land that was being taken away from them and they killed many white settlers in their territory. This is how the conflict between the nez perce, led by Chief Joseph, and the federal forces, led by …show more content…
For three months they traveled north. Beat by the harsh cold and lack of supplies, Chief Joseph surrendered just 40 miles away from the Canadian border. They had traveled a remarkable 1400 miles. There were only 700 Nez Perce to 2000 U.S soldiers. Though he was credited with being a great warrior, he stayed in the back to protect the children and the women. Chief Joseph, even as chief never really fought. It was his brother, Olikut, who was probably responsible for the strategizing and success of the Nez Perce. Chief Joseph was respected for not scalping or harming any women and children during this battle, by General O.O. Howard and by General W.T.
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