What was the main goal of the United States in regards to the Native American?

The main goal of the United States in regard to the Native Americans was to move them out of the way so our country could grow and make progress. Many Americans believed the Native Americans were blocking the growth of and the development of the United States. They believed the Native Americans were uncivilized and were undeveloped. They believed the Native Americans had a backward way of living that was holding back our country's progress.

In order for our country to grow and to make progress, the government wanted to move the Native Americans west of the Mississippi River in the 1830s. The Indian Removal Act led to the forced relocation of many Native Americans. The Trail of Tears, a term used to describe this forced relocation, led to many Native Americans tribes being relocated to lands west of the Mississippi River.

As we began to expand west of the Mississippi River, we then developed policies to place the Native Americans on reservations. We again viewed the Native Americans as holding back progress. There were many conflicts between the U.S. Army and the Native Americans. In most cases, the Native Americans ended up on reservations.

Throughout our history, we haven’t considered the needs of the Native Americans. We have developed policies that benefitted the white man and that have allowed the country to grow and to expand. We have tried to move the Native Americans out of the way so our country could grow and develop.