Jack Yunker
12/5/20
Federal Indian Law and Policy on the Great Plains, 1804-1851
1.) 1804-1806: Lewis and Clark were significant to Great Plains Indians in the
American northwest because they were the first white settlers in that area and
also established many French and Indian trading posts. Another thing that
made Lewis and Clark significant to Great Plains Indians was the fact that
they were also on a Political mission. They were told by President Jefferson to
tell the Indians that they would have to move because it was the white
peoples’ land.
2.) 1805-07: Zebulon Pike was the first white male to cross over into the plains
(he crossed into Colorado). Pike’s Peak in Colorado Springs is named after
him. He was the first US citizen some of the tribes met.
3.) 1806: The significant development in trade relations between whites and
Indians was the creation of the Office of the Superintendant of Indian Trade. It
was established in the war department to regulate trade with Indians.
4.) 1807-08: A.) Manuel Lisa
1811-1812: B.) John Jacob Astor
5.) 1815-1825: Beginning of the Indian Removal Policy
6.) 1819: The civilization of Indians began with the Federal government’s
allocation of money for the civilization of Indians. The first step the
government took was to change the Indians’ spiritual beliefs.
7.) 1822: The significant development in Indian trade relations was the opening
of the Office of Indian Trade. The government created this office because they
wanted to control who had access to the Indians.
8.) 1823: The implications of the war in terms of federal Indian law and policy
can be summed up by saying that the policies were one-sided, unfair,
discriminatory, inconsiderate, and pursued with a mindset that force will
always be needed.
9.) 1822: The Santa Fe trail connected Missouri to New Mexico. It was an
international trade route between the US and Mexico. The trail crossed the
territory of the Comanche who required trades in order to cross it. Many
Americans found trading with the Comanche to be more profitable than
trading with Mexico.
