The Treaty System

Posted by Jeffrey R Gudzune May 11, 2009

Both the British and the American colonies adopted a centralized policy towards Indian tribes. In the aftermath of the American Revolution, the United States government began treating indigenous tribes like independent nations. Agents of the government were empowered to negotiate with tribal leaders in order to gain access to native land holdings. Through promises of western, bribes, and even threats, American agents gradually gained control of indigenous territory. At this time, the United States was a new nation, with unsecured borders and a rabidly growing population. The various Indian tribes located along the new nation's borders represented a potential threat to the expansionist new republic. To protect itself, the United States adopted a treaty system that effectively robbed Indian tribes of their lands. Next week, we will look at the treaty system.