What was the U.S. government’s policy towards Plains Indians?

Dealing with the “Indian Problem” Some officials in the early years of the American republic, such as President George Washington, believed that the best way to solve this “Indian problem” was simply to “civilize” the Native Americans. The goal of this civilization campaign was to make Native Americans as much like white Americans as possible by encouraging them convert to Christianity, learn to speak and read English, and adopt European-style economic practices such as the individual ownership of land and other property (including, in some instances in the South, African slaves). In the south eastern United States, many Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, Creek and Cherokee people embraced these customs and became known as the “Five Civilized Tribes.”

But their land, located in parts of Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, Florida and Tennessee, was valuable, and it grew to be more coveted as white settlers flooded the region. Many of these whites yearned to make their fortunes by growing cotton. They wanted that land and they would do almost anything to get it. They stole livestock; burned and looted houses and towns;, and squatted on land that did not belong to them. In 1830, President Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act, which gave the federal government the power to relocate tribes to “Indian zones” west of the Mississippi river.

The ‘Trail of Tears’ The law required the government to negotiate removal treaties fairly, voluntarily and peacefully: It did not permit the president or anyone else to coerce Native nations into giving up their land. However, President Jackson and his government frequently ignored this and forced Native Americans to vacate lands they had lived on for generations. In the winter of 1831, under threat of invasion by the U.S. Army, the Choctaw became the first nation to be expelled from its land altogether. They made the journey to Indian territory on foot (some “bound in chains and marched double file,” one historian writes) and without any food, supplies or other help from the government. Thousands of people died along the way. It was, one Choctaw leader told an Alabama newspaper, a “trail of tears and death.” http://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/trail-of-tears

What did it result in? (A02) Indian Removal Act (1830) Historical Event What was it? (A01) What did it result in? (A02) Indian Removal Act (1830) Jackson’s government threatened tribes with war unless they moved. The journey onto these reservations became known as “Trail of Tears” because so many died. Winter of 1831, the Choctaw began to journey without food or supplies – many died. 1836, 3,500 Creeks died. 1838 after selling their land for $5 million, 5000 died from diseases like whooping cough, cholera, typhus and starvation. Indian Trade and Intercourse Act (1834) Land acquisition (1840s) Government support of westward expansion (1840s) Indian Appropriations Act (1854)

What did it result in? (A02) Indian Removal Act (1830) Historical Event What was it? (A01) What did it result in? (A02) Indian Removal Act (1830) Gave federal government powers to pressure 46,000 Indians to move off their land onto reservations west of the Mississippi River. President Andrew Jackson promised that they would never have to give up this land. They would also be protected by US soldiers from tribes who already lived there. Jackson’s government threatened tribes with war unless they moved. The journey onto these reservations became known as “Trail of Tears” because so many died. Winter of 1831, the Choctaw began to journey without food or supplies – many died. 1836, 3,500 Creeks died. 1838 after selling their land for $5 million, 5000 died from diseases like whooping cough, cholera, typhus and starvation. Indian Trade and Intercourse Act (1834) Established a permanent “Indian Frontier” – a border that established the Indian Territory. It would be all land west of the Mississippi and not within the states of Missouri, Louisiana or Askansas. Banned whites from settling on Native land, selling guns or alcohol to them. The border would be protected by US army. Temporarily reduced any tension by ensuring that Indians and whites were separated. Land gained from Mexican defeat (1848) After going to war with Mexico over Texas, America gained huge new land in the West like California. Oregon became part of US control from Britain in 1848. Texas was annexed by the United States in 1845. Instead of being separated from White Americans in the East, the Indian Territory was now in the middle (US states to the East and South US territories to the west) Government support of westward expansion. The government wanted US citizens to leave the East and travel West to settle in the new territories. It was quicker and cheaper to use trails which went through the Indian Territory. US government forced Plains Indians to move away from trails and stop attacking travellers. It resulted in thousands of white settlers travelling through Native land, bringing disease. Raised tension because the US government had gone back on its word. Indian Appropriations Act (1854) Gave federal government money to pay for moving Indians in the Indian Territory onto reservations. Each reservation was given hunting land, so Indians could continue to hunt buffalo and other animals. The land was much smaller than they were used to – therefore overcrowding and food shortages were common. The government hoped that they would be encouraged to take up farming, therefore becoming more like white Americans.