How has the US government historically treated Native Americans?
The United States government has had a long and complicated history with Native Americans. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the US government signed treaties with various Native American nations, guaranteeing protection of their land, rights, and autonomy in exchange for their allegiance to the US. However, the US government often disregarded these treaties and violated the rights of Native Americans. In the 19th century, the federal government forcibly relocated many Native Americans and seized their ancestral lands for farming and other development. They also suppressed many of Native American cultures, languages, and religions. The US government also passed a number of laws that discriminated against Native Americans. In the 1830s, the Indian Removal Act authorized the federal government to forcibly relocate Native Americans and seize their land. The Dawes Act of 1887 declared all Native American land “surplus” and forced the tribes to divide their land into individual allotments. In modern times, the US government has taken steps to make amends for its past wrongs and actively works to protect the rights of Native Americans. For example, the US government has established the Bureau of Indian Affairs to ensure that Native Americans are treated fairly. The US government has also enacted the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, which requires federal agencies to return remains and sacred objects to Native American tribes.
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