The United States government set policies for the Native Americans. They were set because the United States wanted to expand to the West. The expansion would be into territory that belonged to the Native American tribes. The native Americans experienced much adversity as European immigrants moved in and forced citizens of cities to move westward.
The United States was successful in their expansion to the Mississippi River. Within thirty years the U.S. doubled the land it controlled. Eventually after the discovery of gold in 1849, with the help of the government and military, settlers began moving to the Great Plains and other parts of the Native American land.
There were laws developed in the United States to state the relationship between the Native Americans and the government. In 1824 Congress made the Bureau of
…show more content…
The Natives sold food that they hunted, supplies and many other things to the travelers. Even though they were so friendly and helpful, some settlers feared possible attacks. In 1851 the United States set up a meeting with local tribes. They established the Treaty of Fort Laramie. This treaty stated that the tribes were to accept a territory, allow the government to build roads, they were not to attack settlers and in return they would get annual pay from the government. Unfortunately the treaty they thought would work and be peaceful, did not last long. The government got word of fertile land and minerals in the west and broke their promise. They allowed new people who were not Indians to move into the west. Another policy was made to keep Native Americans on reservations. Native Americans were forced to give up land and go to the reservations. They were told this was the way to protect them from attacks from white settlers. Of course, the government promised a annual payment, it included food, cattle, farming supplies and home