Stevens felt that the only way the tribes would agree to a treaty was to preserve their hunting and fishing rights. This way, the Native Americans would no longer be in the way of the United States’ expansion, but they also would not be angry with the American government. Governor Stevens figured that if the tribes could maintain a part of their traditional lifestyle, they would be satisfied enough (The 1854-1855 Western Washington Treaties).
Why was there no resistance from the tribes?
The tribes were not happy about giving up their sacred land, but were promised protection from opposing nations as well as white settlers. If the native tribes were peaceful in giving up their land, the United States government promised to leave them alone…show more content… On the Pacific Coast, attacks against the native peoples accompanied the flood of immigrants to gold-laden California. Disease, malnutrition, and warfare combined with the poor, barren lands set aside as reservations to reduce the Native American population of California from 150,000 in 1845 to 35,000 in 1850 (Northwest Indian Facts, 2010). The army took the lead role in Oregon and Washington, using the Rogue River, Yakima, and Spokane wars to force several tribes onto reservations (History.com Staff, 2010, Manifest Destiny). Sporadic conflicts also plagued Arizona and New Mexico throughout the early 1850s as the army struggled to establish its presence ( On the southern plains, mounted warriors posed an even more formidable challenge to white expansion. Strikes against the Sioux, Cheyennes, Arapahos, Comanches, and Kiowas during the decade only hinted at the deadlier conflicts of years to come (History.com Staff. 2010). It is apparent that the Native Americans gave up their lands as an act of simple self preservation. The tribes could befriend the United States government, or risk the lives of thousands (What is a
