Tension with the Indigenous Peoples of the Plains (Edexcel GCSE History)

What Caused Tension Between the US Government and Indigenous Peoples in America? - Timeline & Summary

From 1830 to 1851, significant tensions existed between the US government and Indigenous peoples in America.

One key factor was the US government's policy of segregation. The Indian Removal Act aimed to move indigenous peoples to the west of the Mississippi River. President Jackson authorised the government to negotiate treaties with Indigenous tribes. Many of these treaties were unfair. This led to widespread resistance among Indigenous peoples.

Another source of tension was the rapid expansion of white settlements into Indigenous territories. Many migrants wanted land and economic opportunities. An example of this is the California Gold Rush in 1848. As settlers trespassed on indigenous lands, conflicts occurred. Many issues centred on land rights, resources and competing interests. Many settlers disregarded indigenous peoples' claims to the land. Sometimes, tension resulted in violence between settlers and indigenous communities.

The US government's policy of assimilation also contributed to tensions. The US government forced indigenous peoples to act like white Americans. These policies undermined Indigenous cultures and traditions.

Why did Settlers Want Land in the Plains?

• Settlers recognised that the Indigenous tribes had some rights to land in the Plains

• White Americans believed that they should have land in the Plains because the settlers:

  • Would improve the land

    • Indigenous tribes did not improve the land. They lived off of the natural produce of the land

    • Settlers would grow crops, mine for natural resources and fell trees for timber

  • Would 'civilise' the area

    • Settlers viewed the Indigenous peoples as 'savages'

    • Settlers believed that they could make the Plains a part of the USA

  • Deserved the best land

    • Settlers felt that they could benefit from land in the Plains

    • Many white Americans argued that the Indigenous peoples should learn how to farm or move on

• Land caused conflict between the Indigenous peoples and white Americans

• To ease tensions, the US federal government aimed to:

  • Separate settlers and Indigenous tribes by creating reservations

  • Encourage Indigenous peoples to assimilate

'Permanent Indian Frontier' and the Indian Removal Act, 1830

• From 1830, the US government, under President Jackson, attempted to reduce tension between white Americans and the Indigenous population

Government Policies Towards Indigenous Peoples, 1830 to 1834

The Indian Appropriations Act, 1851

What Caused the US Government's Approach to Indigenous Peoples to Change?

• Texas became an official part of the USA in 1845

• In 1846, the USA took control of Oregon Country

  • It had previously jointly occupied the county with Britain

• The USA won a war against Mexico in 1848

  • The USA gained a huge amount of territory in the West, including California

• As a result, the 'Indian Territory' was in the centre of the USA

  • The government wanted US citizens to move into the new territories in the West

  • Settlers needed the ability to cross the 'Permanent Indian Frontier' without harm

Government Policy Towards Indigenous Peoples, 1851

Conflict Over Food

Racism Against the Indigenous Peoples of the Plains

• Most white Americans viewed themselves as superior to the Indigenous peoples of America

  • This viewpoint influenced how many settlers treated Indigenous tribes

• Settler's racist attitudes came from misunderstanding Indigenous peoples

  • Many settlers did not attempt to learn about the Indigenous peoples' language, customs and beliefs

    • Customs such as scalping led settlers to view Indigenous tribes as savages

  • Indigenous peoples sometimes begged for or stole supplies

    • Many tribal members were forced to do this because the white settlers had monopolised these resources

• Not all settlers were racist

  • For example, the Mormons studied the Pueblo tribe to learn about how to survive in the Salt Lake Valley