what was the policy towards native americans between the years of 1775-1865?

Question

how did it change and was it contradictory

Answer 1

Make treaties. Break treaties. Forced displacement and random slaughter pretty much covers it.

Answer 2

The policies really started when America was still a colony. As the British brought slavery to America, they also started the displacement of Native Americans.

Governors of territories entered into treaties with Native Americans which meant the tribes were handing over land to the government in exchange for annuities. You can find many copies online. They're very specific about what land is being signed away, but very vague as to what the tribes got in exchange. You had tribal leaders signing away their enemies' land, people signing treaties who weren't authorized, etc. You also have squatters, which were frontiers men who simply took over land from tribes. So, the policy was to open up new territories for settlers, while pushing the Native Americans further west. Image coming home from work to find out your neighbor, whom you don't get along with, just signed away your home to someone else--and there was nothing you could do about it.

In some areas children of Native Americans and settlers were given land and did not have to move west. You can see these "reservations" on local maps up to the early 1900s. Certain tribe members were also given tracts of land throughout the Midwest.

Answer 3

kill'em all