A discouraging history of US and Native American agreements and historical events
Papal Bull of 1493
Pope Alexander VI issues a papal bull or decree, “Inter Caetera," in which he authorizes Spain and Portugal to colonize the Americas and its Native peoples as subjects. The decree asserts the rights of Spain and Portugal to colonize, convert, and enslave.
Impact on relations with Native people: White man made a decision to colonize where they want and take over the native peoples.
Treaty with the Delawares of 1778
In 1778, during the American Revolution, the Continental Congress sent representatives to negotiate a treaty with the Lenape (Delaware), who resided in the Ohio Country. To maintain the Lenape support, the Congress agreed to a treaty with the tribe on September 17, 1778. Under this treaty the Americans, in revolt, and the Lenape agreed to assist each other against the British.
In March 1782, Pennsylvania militiamen broke the agreements of the treaty and killed approximately ninety-six defenseless "Christian Lenape" at Gnadenhutten. This event became known as the Gnadenhutten Massacre. The event helped convince the Ohio Country's American Indian population to turn on the Americans and support the British.
Impact on relations with Native Americans: Americans try to make nice with Native Americans in efforts to create allies for war. This treaty is quickly broken by army men and the Native Americans change sides.
Northwest Ordinance 1787
Congress ratifies the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, creating the first organized territory of the United States. The Northwest Territory includes the region south of the Great Lakes, north and west of the Ohio River, and east of the Mississippi River. The Ordinance directs that “the utmost good faith shall always be observed towards Indians; their land and property shall never be taken from them without their consent.”
Impact on relations with Native Americans: Americans make a great effort to claim land and at the same time honor Native Americans. Strong words like "utmost" "always" "never" "consent" are used in the treaty. All promises will be broken.
Trade and Intercourse Act 1790
One of the initial acts passed by the first U.S. Congress was the Indian Trade and Intercourse Act of 1790. Passed on July 22, 1790, this was the first law to regulate trade between Native Americans and colonists. Congress proclaimed its treaty-making policy and mandated that all interactions between Indians and non-Indians were under federal control. During this time, federal officials favored efforts to “civilize” tribal nations, a sentiment that would later influence Indian removal.
Impact on relations with Native Americans: Federal control creeps into the Native American life. All trades are regulated. Americans desire to change the way of life of the Native Americans and make them more like white people.
Many Native Americans were converted to Catholicism and still remain Catholic today.