The Impact of Western Migration and Conflicts on American Indian Tribes

1. The Impact of Western Migration and Conflicts on American Indian Tribes

2. Broken Treaties and Agreements • Treaties between American Indian tribes and the U.S. government that were supposed to last forever are broken as a result of Western expansion and discovery of gold. • New treaties forced American Indians to give up territory and resettle in “designated” Indian areas (reservations). • Promises of compensation often went unfulfilled. • Reservations were promised as permanent homes for American Indians, but tribes were sometimes moved or forced to given up part of the land.

3. Dawe’s Act (1887-1914) • Encouraged the break-up of tribes and reservations. • Gave land and offers of citizenship to families who assimilated (became like white settlers) • The Act did not work as planned. • Families did not sign on to the plan or assimilate • Some American Indians sold their land for little money • Remaining reservation land was given to whites

4. Reduced Hunting Grounds and Natural Resources • Buffalo herds were hunted to near extinction by the white men. • The buffalo had been key to American Indian survival. • After the Dawes Act and westward expansion, whites settled on former Indian lands (by both political and physical force).

5. Increased Dependence • Increased dependence on the Federal Government’s Bureau of Indian Affairs • Tribes relied on U.S. Government for food and money • Indian Affairs Agents were often corrupt • Goods, food, and money were often not delivered or were of poor quality

6. Assimilation and “Americanization” • U.S. Government attempted to: • Change Native culture through religious missions • Change economy and lifestyle of Native people’s through reservations and farming instead of hunting and nomadic lifestyle • Took Native children from homes and sent them to boarding schools • Imposed Western style goods and practices