The US Government Changed Its Relationship Status to “It’s Complicated” With Native Americans

The first half of the 19th century was a bit tumultuous for the fledgling country of the United States of America. They recently solidified their government structure with the ratification of the Constitution in 1787. They ended the importation of slaves in 1808. They entered a brief war with Britain again in 1812. They were beginning to hold their own consistently on the global stage, all the while continuing to grow internally. As the 1800s progresses, they realize that they still need to confront the issue of their relationship as a country with the indigenous people who lived here before them. How should they approach their Native American neighbors? Could these white settlers live in peace with the indigenous population, or were their prejudices in addition to the ever-growing fear of violence ever lingering in their minds too much? Could the United States continue to grow as an economical power on the world stage if they could not settle the lands to the West of them? These are all important questions to consider as the country continues to try to expand as it did with the Northwest Ordinance.

Please read through and jot down notes on the primary sources as you read through them. Use the Three-Read method while you go through them. Make sure to answer the questions in complete sentences and in your own words. As you read, keep in mind how the different parties are impacted by these policies. How does the US Government benefit and what are its costs? Do the Native Americans benefit? What is their cost? Think about what property rights are: what constitutes property, who owns the property, and how do others understand who owns the property?