Westward expansion: social and cultural development

“Hereafter no Indian nation or tribe within the territory of the United States shall be acknowledged or recognized as an independent nation, tribe, or power with whom the United States may contract by treaty. Provided, further, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to invalidate or impair the obligation of any treaty heretofore lawfully made and ratified with any such Indian nation or tribe.”

-Source: excerpt from the Indian Appropriation Act, 1871

Which of the following most likely motivated Congress to pass the law in the excerpt?

(Choice A)
a treaty between France and indigenous nations that created an alliance to conquer western states
(Choice B)
an armed invasion by several indigenous nations aiming to reclaim land in the northeastern states
(Choice C)
a federal effort to remove indigenous nations from land and claim it for white settlers
(Choice D)
a divisive court ruling that excluded indigenous land from state laws and guaranteed an indigenous right to sovereignty

AP®︎/College US History

Course: AP®︎/College US History > Unit 6

Problem