1. Manifest Destiny: The belief held by many European Americans that it was their destiny to expand and settle across North America greatly impacted Native American lands. The government and settlers believed they had a right to take Native American land for themselves.
2. Treaties and broken promises: The United States government made numerous treaties with Native American tribes, promising lands in exchange for peace and cooperation. However, these treaties were often broken or not honored by the government, leading to the loss of land for Native Americans.
3. Gold Rush: The discovery of gold in various parts of the West led to a massive influx of settlers and an increased demand for land. Native American lands were often targeted by miners and settlers looking to strike it rich, leading to conflicts and land seizures.
4. Indian Removal Act of 1830: This act signed into law by President Andrew Jackson, authorized the removal of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the Southeast to lands west of the Mississippi River. This forced relocation led to the loss of land for many tribes.
5. Wars and military campaigns: The United States military waged numerous campaigns against Native American tribes in the West, seeking to drive them off their lands and onto reservations. Military victories often led to the loss of land for Native Americans.
6. Assimilation policies: The US government implemented policies aimed at assimilating Native Americans into mainstream American society, which often included forcibly removing them from their traditional lands and placing them on reservations.
7. Encroachment by settlers: As more and more settlers moved into the West, Native American lands were increasingly encroached upon. Settlers would squat on Native land, leading to conflicts and eventual loss of land for Native Americans.
What factors caused Native Americans in the West to lose land in the 1800s?
1 answer