Question

graded assignment
native americans and the constitution
total score: _____ of 50 points
be sure to save this document to your computer like this:
hist413_02_08_native_americans_and_the_constitution_yourfirstinitial_yourlastname.doc
refer to the rubric at the end of this assignment for details on how you will be graded.
compose an essay
your essay will describe the relationship between the u.s. government and native american groups over time. please include at least four paragraphs:

• one paragraph on the relationship during the colonialism period,
• one paragraph on the relationship in the constitution time period,
• one paragraph on the relationship during the period of spreading u.s. settlements, and
• one paragraph on the current relationships between native americans and the u.s. government.

feel free to use the work you did in your history journal to help with your essay. review the lesson content. in your essay you should support your points using evidence from the lesson and the material you just read.
type your answer here.
submit your assignment
submit your assignment to your teacher for grading.

Explanation:

To complete this essay, we analyze the U.S. - Native American relationship across four periods:

Colonial Period (1600s - 1776)

During colonization, European settlers (later Americans) and Native Americans had complex ties. Initially, some tribes like the Powhatans in Virginia traded with colonists, sharing food (e.g., corn) and survival skills. But as settlements expanded, conflicts over land erupted. The Pequot War (1636 - 1638) and King Philip’s War (1675 - 1676) showed how competition for resources and cultural clashes (colonists wanted to convert Natives to Christianity, Natives had their own spiritual beliefs) strained relations. Colonists often used treaties to gain land, though they were not always fair, and disease (like smallpox) from Europeans devastated Native populations, weakening their ability to resist.

Constitution Time Period (Late 1700s - Early 1800s)

The U.S. Constitution had ambiguous language about Native Americans. Article I, Section 8 gave Congress power to “regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes,” treating tribes as semi - sovereign entities. Treaties like the Treaty of Hopewell (1785) with the Cherokee established boundaries, but the U.S. often violated them. The idea of “Manifest Destiny” was nascent, and the government saw Natives as obstacles to westward expansion. Some tribes, like the Cherokee, tried to assimilate (adopting European - style farming, education) to gain rights, but this didn't stop encroachment.

Period of Spreading U.S. Settlements (1800s - Late 1800s)

Westward expansion accelerated, leading to forced removal. The Indian Removal Act (1830) authorized relocating tribes like the Cherokee, Choctaw, and Chickasaw from the Southeast to Oklahoma (the “Trail of Tears,” 1838 - 1839, where thousands died). On the Great Plains, conflicts like the Battle of Little Bighorn (1876) occurred as Natives fought to keep their land from settlers and the U.S. Army. The reservation system was imposed, confining tribes to small, often infertile areas, disrupting their traditional ways of life (hunting, nomadic cultures). Boarding schools were established to assimilate Native children, stripping them of their language and culture.

Current Relationships (20th - 21st Centuries)

Today, Native American tribes have a unique legal status as sovereign nations within the U.S. They have the right to self - governance, with tribal governments managing education, healthcare, and economic development on reservations. The Indian Self - Determination and Education Assistance Act (1975) gave tribes more control over federal programs. There are ongoing efforts to preserve Native cultures, languages, and traditions. However, issues like poverty, lack of access to quality healthcare and education, and disputes over land and natural resources (e.g., water rights, tribal lands for energy development) still exist. The U.S. government also provides some federal funding and support for tribal programs, and there are official apologies for past wrongs (like the 2009 apology for the Indian boarding school era).

Answer:

[The essay as written in the 'Brief Explanations' section, covering the four required paragraphs on the relationship between the U.S. government and Native American groups during the colonial period, Constitution time period, period of spreading U.S. settlements, and current relationships.]