Background.

Since the first Europeans landed in the Western Hemisphere, they and the indigenous peoples they called Indians have made many agreements, often known as treaties. In theory these treaties set out the guidelines for how these different cultures would get along and share resources and lands. In practice, however, treaties between American Indians and Euro- Americans often caused as much conflict as they resolved. Over time both groups, but especially the U.S. government, abridged the terms of these treaties. Particularly during the era of Western expansion, controversies over treaty interpretation and enforcement led to conflict between indigenous and American peoples.

Conflicts.

There are several reasons these conflicts occurred. When the colonists first began negotiating treaties with Native Americans, they were relatively powerless against the more numerous Indians. Therefore, colonial treaty makers often took pains to placate the Indians; normally...