Why were Indian treaties often unsuccessful?

Answer 1

They were unsuccessful because the white man did not feel the Native American was worthy of entering into "civil society" and they failed to assimilate the Native into their laws and government. If you are not a full citizen then you are constantly at the whims of the civilization that has enslaved, colonized, or whom you are "under protection".

Answer 2

There was a combination of factors. One was the often mentioned idea that the contracts were not signed in good faith to begin with. But in all fairness this did happen on both sides. But also was cultural differences. European styly politics was really not compatible with what was basically an advanced stone age, tribal society. The Indians would not understand the need for a treaty of ownership when they didn't claim ownership of the land in the first place. Also the lack of compatible ideas led to those rediculous "beads for all your land" type of treaties. The natives thought they'd made a great deal, getting items in exchange for something they didn't even own.

And then you add the extra complications of changes in leadership on either side. One tribe takes over another's territory, they likely won't honor a pre-existing treaty. If the British take some land from the French they're not obligated to abide by a French treaty.

Then you add in sever hundred years of misunderstandings and shifting sovereignty and you get the huge mess we have now.

The part that bugs me is how recently some tribes have tried to claim centuries old treaties for land that has since become prime developed real estate. It's not realistic to expect the new owners, legal owners, to just sacrifice what they've worked for to honor a long forgotten treaty that until yesterday, nobody was even contesting.

Answer 3

European settles arrived along the East Coast of the United States and displaced the Native Americans already living there (by force when necessary). The Indians were given new lands to the west and treaties were drawn up to finalize these arrangements. But as time went by, more settlers arrived and America expanded west and the Native Americans were forced west again and given treaties for new lands. The process repeated until the Native Americans were forced west of the Mississippi onto land that wasn't suited for agriculture and didn't have any mineral wealth, so Europeans/Americans didn't want the land anyway.

Why were the treaties never honored, or unsuccessful? Because the Indians couldn't do anything if Americans decided not to honor previous treaties. They were hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned so they didn't have much choice but to move or die fighting against overwhelming odds.

Answer 4

The biggest single reason was the whites had no intention of keeping the treaties when it was to their advantage.

Answer 5

The WASPs didn't feel a need to adhere to them.