Who was Isaac Stevens? Enemy of Native Americans or War Hero? скачать в хорошем качестве

Who was Isaac Stevens? Enemy of Native Americans or War Hero?

Isaac Ingalls Stevens was a prominent American military officer and politician born on March 25, 1818, in North Andover, Massachusetts. He graduated at the top of his class from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served in the U.S. Army during the Mexican–American War. In 1853, President Franklin Pierce appointed him as the first governor of the newly created Washington Territory, a position he held until 1857. Stevens was instrumental in establishing the territorial government and led a major survey to identify a route for a transcontinental railroad to Puget Sound. As governor, Stevens was a polarizing figure. He negotiated treaties with Native American tribes in an effort to avoid military conflict, but when the Yakama War erupted, he responded with aggressive military action. His controversial use of martial law, including jailing judges who opposed him and raising a personal militia, led to his conviction for contempt of court—though he famously pardoned himself. After his governorship, Stevens served as the territory’s delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. During the American Civil War, he returned to military service, rising to the rank of brigadier general and later being posthumously promoted to major general. He was killed in action at the Battle of Chantilly on September 1, 1862, while leading his troops and carrying the fallen colors of his regiment. Stevens left a lasting legacy in the Pacific Northwest, with several towns, counties, and schools named in his honor. His leadership during Washington’s formative years shaped the region’s infrastructure, settlement patterns, and political development.