Seminole Warriors STR-M160

Seminole warriors were a key force in indigenous resistance to U.S. expansion in the 18th and 19th centuries. Originating in the southeastern United States, the Seminoles were formed as an amalgam of displaced Native groups, such as the Creek, and runaway African slaves who found refuge in their communities. During the three Seminole Wars (1817-1858), these warriors were noted for their knowledge of the terrain and guerrilla tactics in the swamps and forests of Florida. Led by figures such as Osceola, they fought against a U.S. army superior in numbers and resources. Despite their tenacity, they faced the devastation of their villages and the forced deportation known as the Trail of Tears. However, some groups held out in the Everglades, where their descendants remain to this day. Seminole warriors symbolize the struggle for autonomy and identity in the face of colonization and forced displacement.