 Gave ownership of land in the New World (America) to the Gov’t of the explorer who made the discovery  Made Indians the “rightful occupant” of the land, but gave legal ownership to the Gov’t  TWO main effects: 1) Prevented U.S from trying to conquer the Indians. 2) Indian tribes were recognized as sovereign nations

 Many early treaties contained a Gov’t agreement to provide services in exchange of land  Gov’t offered to protect Indian rights, and Gov’t also acknowledged Indians to occupy the land.

NATIVE AMERICANSWHITE SETTLERS  Viewed individual ownership as impossible  Believed the land belonged to the “Great Spirit” made for everyone.  Land was necessary for survival (fishing, hunting, shelter)  If they sold land, they believed is was only temporary (renting)  Viewed ownership as sign of success, and ultimate goal  Sign of industry and hard work  Person’s importance was based on property ownership  Bought land on a permanent basis

NATIVE AMERICANSWHITE SETTLERS  Tribes emphasized “interdependence”  Hard physical labor was a woman’s duty (farmwork)  Men were the hunters and warriors  Believed farming huge areas of land was an “assault” on mother earth  Emphasized “independence” and self- sufficiency  Believed hard physical labor was sign of a worthy person, kept them close to God  Father of family would lead the family in work

 Indians regarded whites a “poachers” encroaching on tribal land, began to attack frontier settlements.  Colonists considered Indians inferior and “evil”  The American Revolution had Indians ally with the British, which justified Americans taking tribal lands. “Rights of Conquest” since they had been defeated along with the British

 Was a white man’s problem, in their need for confiscating prime farming lands, but the Indians occupied these lands.  President Thomas Jefferson saw a solution: Proposed exchanging land in the east, for lands in the west (Oklahoma Terr) Was careful not to break his Christian ethics Wanted to “Assimilate” Indians into white culture (Americanizing)

 Again some tribes allied with the British, Americans saw this as “treason”  Demanded the punishment of these tribes Confiscate their lands, remove them to the West However, many Creeks, Cherokees, Choctaws, Chickasaws remained loyal to the U.S

 Andrew Jackson winning the Presidency in 1828 was the final blow to removal  Southern states started to pass oppression laws against tribal gov’t  Jackson said he was “powerless” in the matter and hoped that Indians would start to accept their fate and move West.