The Evolution of Federal Indian Policy

Federal Indian Policy

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When the newly founded United States of America gained its independence from Britain , they were faced with many new challenges . One of their biggest challenges was establishing and building upon their own domain that Britain had transferred at the Peace Treaty of 1783 .1 Of course this land was still inhabited by Indian peoples . The United States knew that territorial expansion was inevitable and to the Indians , this meant war . Creek chief Hallowing King said , Our lands are our life and

breath . If we part with them , we part with our blood '2 This turned out to be a constant changing battle for territorial dominance and an era of changing federal Indian policy

The new America followed British ideas and created an Indian Department This department established many rules for the sale and transfer of Indian lands with the hope of regulating the advancement of the western frontier .3 In 1790 , Congress enacted the Indian Trade and Intercourse Act .4 Backed by President Washington and the Indian Department , this act stipulated that Congress would regulate all trade , interaction and even intercourse with all Native Americans .5 Congress regulated this Act by issuing licenses to approved individuals . Failure to obey this law led to apprehension and a trail in court .6 However , many American famers ignored this bill and would steal Indians to use as slaves . Naturally the Indians fought back which led to bloody encounters . As Americans continued to ease westward , many battles and treaties began to emerge The Battle of Fallen Timbers was one of the more popular encounters . The Western Lakes Confederacy which consisted of several numerous tribes had achieved major victories in the past . It was President Washington 's goal to put their victories to an end .7 The Americans out-numbered the Indians and destroyed many villages in the region . This battle led to the form of many treaties like the Treaty of Greenville in 1795 . This ended the Northwest Indian War which the Battle of Fallen Timbers was a part of . In exchange of goods valued at 20 ,000 , the Indians turned over large parts of the modern-day area of Ohio .8 This was a tremendous victory for the United States and it certainly gave them the momentum in establishing Indian policy and in the race for territorial expansion

However , the fight and establishment for federal Indian policy did not end in the Ohio Valley . The United States began to realize that the Indians and Americans would not be able to co-exist in the same eastern territory . President Thomas Jefferson began implementing the policy of removing ' Indians from their eastern homelands . The government decided they could go about this a few different ways . They could try to destroy the Indian peoples , assimilate them to American society , protect them on their ancestral lands or remove them to more distant , western lands .9 It was Jefferson 's plan to use the process of dispossession with minimal government . This plan involved allowing...