US Government Policy Towards the Plains Indians

• When was the Indian Removal Act Introduced?

  1830
• 1830 – Indian Removal Act

  Signed by President Andrew Jackson:

  • 46,000 American Indians living in the east were forced to move west of the Mississippi.
  • Jackson promised they would never have to give up this land.
• When was the Indian Trade and Intercourse Act introduced?

  1834
• 1834 – Indian Trade and Intercourse Act

  An area west of the Mississippi was labelled “Indian Territory”.

  • A Permanent Indian Frontier (border) was created to divide American Indian lands and the eastern states. It was guarded by a chain of US Army forts.
  • Whites were banned from settling on Indian lands.
  • White traders were banned from selling weapons or alcohol to American Indians.
• When was the Indian Appropriations Act introduced?

  1851
• 1851 – Indian Appropriations Act


  • The government gave money to Plains Indians to help them move onto reservations. These were areas ‘reserved’ for American Indians and managed by the government.
  • The government reduced the amount of hunting land available. They hoped the Plains Indians would take up farming and become more like white Americans.