Asses the impact of Westward expansion on Native Americans

The first 200 words of this essay...

Asses the impact of Westward expansion on Native Americans

The impact on the Native American people during the 19th century when white settlers began to expand into the west was utterly devastating. Pre-colonisation, there were a recorded 10 million Native people, once the Frontier was established, and closed, there were only 400,000 confirmed remaining. These remaining people were confined to the cruelty of reservations and coercions, legally, socially and economically, the last of which was likely hardest felt and most important aspect.

Politically, Native Americans were subjected to an outrageous hypocrisy. When first negotiating with various Native Americans tribes, be it Soux, Arapaho, Cheyenne or Lakota, each were recognised as a distinct and independent nation, detached from the USA. This meant they acted under their own rules and had their own political culture; they were not subjected to, nor incorporated within, either the constraints or liberties of the American constitution. Even the 1830 Removal Act, brutal in its implementation recognised the 'Five Civilised Tribes' as autonomous ad external nations. The problem was the 1871 Indian Appropriations Act. Here, tribes and lands ceased to be viewed as independent countries. The inhabitants of these regions were removed and