The U.S. Government Breaks Treaties
In Grade 8 U.S. History, students study how the U.S. government repeatedly violated treaties with Native American nations to seize land for settlement and mining, relocating tribes to reservations and using military force when tribes resisted. The Dawes Act of 1887 further undermined tribal sovereignty by breaking up communal reservation land. This topic is in California myWorld Interactive Grade 8, Chapter 7: The West.
Key Concepts
As the United States expanded westward, settlers and miners pushed onto lands belonging to American Indian nations. The U.S. government signed treaties, like the Fort Laramie Treaty , which promised to protect American Indian territories in exchange for safe passage for settlers.
However, these promises were often broken. When gold or other valuable resources were discovered, the government allowed settlers to ignore the treaties and claim the land. This pattern of broken agreements destroyed trust and led to years of conflict.
Common Questions
How did the U.S. government break treaties with Native Americans?
The U.S. repeatedly renegotiated or simply violated treaties when settlers or miners wanted Native land, using military force to relocate tribes to smaller and less desirable reservations.
What was the Dawes Act of 1887?
The Dawes Act divided communal tribal reservation lands into individual 160-acre allotments given to Native families, with remaining land sold to white settlers, destroying tribal unity and reducing Native land holdings dramatically.
Why did the U.S. government break Native American treaties?
The government broke treaties when settlers, miners, or railroad companies wanted Native land, prioritizing white settlement and economic development over legal treaty obligations to Native nations.
What chapter covers broken treaties in California myWorld Interactive Grade 8?
Chapter 7: The West covers U.S. government treaty violations and Native American policy in California myWorld Interactive, Grade 8.