What Native American tribe is the most powerful before 1900?

[Deus Ignis]

As the Title states which tribe is the most powerful? (In North America, not Latin/South)
I personally believe it to the Comanche based on three books
The Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C.Gwynne
Comanches: the Destruction of a people by T.R.Fehrenback (He is an authority on the subject)
As well as:
The Comanche: Lords of the Southern Plains by Enrnest Wallace and E.Adamson Hoeboel
They drove off the apache and other powerful tribes either destroying them, subjugating them, allying themselves with, or dove they off their land.
As well as bested the U.S. Army for about 40 years until they were forced to send their best officers and recruits to deal with while being bested when the tribe was weakened by disease and depopulation. (By the way the Texas Rangers was a huge failure that had about three successes)
Based on reviews I will say around 1400 to 1900

[La Xinga]

I mean, the Sioux manage to beat the Americans a couple of times, but they lost a lot too.....

[Kiu Ghesik]

Before 1900 is a broad period of time. I would say the Mississippi River civilization was the most powerful, but they got yeeted in like 1500

[La Xinga]

Before 1900 is a broad period of time. I would say the Mississippi River civilization was the most powerful, but they got yeeted in like 1500

Ohh, yes, forgot bout' them!

[Hansdeltania]

Before 1900 is a broad period of time. I would say the Mississippi River civilization was the most powerful, but they got yeeted in like 1500

I'm going to agree with pre-1900 as way too broad. If we're going to define "Native American" as any civilization that existed in the New World prior to the arrival of Columbus in 1492, I would have to say the Aztecs.

[The Black Forrest]

Depends on how far back you are going.

The Iroquois were pretty tough.

You have the Sioux and the apache.

Probably the toughest was the Comanche. They stopped the expansion of the Spanish, the Texas republic and even the US lost land to them. There is also the Kiowa who frequently rode with the Comanche. They were still causing problems in the 1870s.

[Salus Maior]

Tecumseh's confederacy had some serious potential.

[Rio Cana]

The OP said North America not the US. So the most powerful tribe would be the Purepeche. They are considered the first native state since they had defined borders. Short video which explains it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRz_Qmr94wI&t=1s

[Greed and Death]

Clearly the Cherokee, me being a citizen of that tribe has nothing to do with it,

[Salus Maior]

Clearly the Cherokee, me being a citizen of that tribe has nothing to do with it,

The 5 Civilized Tribes were lit af.

[Major-Tom]

In terms of regional influence and advancement for their time, probably the Iroquois. The Navajo, often overlooked in favor of tribes such as the Cherokee, were also fucking OP way back when.

[Drew Durrnil]

In terms of regional influence and advancement for their time, probably the Iroquois. The Navajo, often overlooked in favor of tribes such as the Cherokee, were also fucking OP way back when.

Agree.

[Neanderthaland]

Not to disparage the Comanche's accomplishments (really. They're very cool), but a large part of their success had to do with the land they fought in.

Appalachia and upstate New York are a lot easier to push into if you're coming from the East Coast. Both the Iroquois and the Cherokee probably more powerful overall, but had the disadvantage of being right next to the heart of the emerging United States. Instead of what is largely wasteland, far from the centers of US power.

You can see this play out with the Seminole as well. While not "powerful" by any means, they had the advantage of fighting in hot, swampy, mosquito infested... well, basically Vietnam. And so were more difficult for the US to overcome.

[Tranzoria]

Eskimo tribe was freaking Humongous.
And the Blackhawks too.

[Tranzoria]

The OP said North America not the US. So the most powerful tribe would be the Purepeche. They are considered the first native state since they had defined borders. Short video which explains it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRz_Qmr94wI&t=1s

No Latin America.

[Tranzoria]

The most powerful ones were on US and Mexico or Canada Border-Comanche, Iroquois League, Dakotan Tribes, Seminole.
Biggest ones were in Canada-Eskimo, Navaois.

[Bear Stearns]

Do your homework elsewhere.

[Northwest Kalactin]

I think that you hear the most war stories about tribes like the Sioux and the Seminoles, but that doesn’t mean that they are the most powerful.

[Tranzoria]

I think that you hear the most war stories about tribes like the Sioux and the Seminoles, but that doesn’t mean that they are the most powerful.

Actually, a lot of them are very powerful.
Sorry, were.

[Bear Stearns]

I think that you hear the most war stories about tribes like the Sioux and the Seminoles, but that doesn’t mean that they are the most powerful.

Actually, a lot of them are very powerful.
Sorry, were.

The vast majority of tribes around today are a lot more populous and wealthier than they were in the 19th Century. The Native American population as a whole is larger today than it has ever been in history.

[Seangoli]

I think that you hear the most war stories about tribes like the Sioux and the Seminoles, but that doesn’t mean that they are the most powerful.

The arrival of the Sioux on the Plains in the 1500s saw them overtake the region is great fashion, and by the 1850s had obliterated numerous other tribes in the region, and were well on their way to doing so to others by the 1860s until they suffered numerous defeats by the US army during the Dakota Uprising and going into the 1870s. It can be reasonably argued that they were at least the most powerful Plains tribe by the mid-19th century, having largely pushed off or eliminated most rivals in the Northern Plains.

[Neanderthaland]

Actually, a lot of them are very powerful.
Sorry, were.

The vast majority of tribes around today are a lot more populous and wealthier than they were in the 19th Century. The Native American population as a whole is larger today than it has ever been in history.

I mean, this is technically true. But it's also true of virtually every population in the world.

[Tokora]

Before 1900 is a broad period of time. I would say the Mississippi River civilization was the most powerful, but they got yeeted in like 1500

I'm going to agree with pre-1900 as way too broad. If we're going to define "Native American" as any civilization that existed in the New World prior to the arrival of Columbus in 1492, I would have to say the Aztecs.

I thought it was Incas.

In North America however, yeah, Comanche.

[Kubra]

Comanche is pretty much a consensus. They were hardass motherfuckers, and in this case that ain't a compliment.

[Tranzoria]

Comanche is pretty much a consensus. They were hardass motherfuckers, and in this case that ain't a compliment.

Best, not baddest.