Indian wars

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Indian wars
Aug 25, 2008 04:58
guest1278	Hello all, I would like to know about Indian wars in US history. I learnt that the USA white Americans drive the Indians to the West in 1900s. Why would they do so? Some Indians tried to resist but killed. How many Indians were killed in the Indian wars?

Aug 26, 2008 18:17

YINDUFFY
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Join Date: Aug 8, 2007
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The immigrants to North America from Europe brought with them their ideas of private property and ownership. This clashed with the Indians ideas of everything belongs to everyone (at least in their tribe) so when settlers built homes and farms Indians disregarded their claims of ownership despite agreements between representatives.
For at least 200 years before the founding of the United States, European settlers had been displacing Indians. When the U.S.A was established, some Indian tribes had black slaves and were prospering. Some tribes remained and gradually blended in the European settlers. An agency of the Federal Government was set up to deal with Indian affairs but there were outbreaks of violence caused by both sides.
Indians have full U.S. citizenship but if they live on a federally recognized reservation, they self govern and pay no Federal or State taxes. They are exempt from State laws and 49 States outlaw gambling so on Indian reservations they set up gambling casinos. Some tribes have made a lot of money from these casinos but most Indian reservations are troubled by lack of job opportunity, alchoholism and drug abuse.
The "Indian wars" span many years and there can be no accurate count on casualties for either side. Some actions were between civilians and Indians and these records are disputed. The last battle took place well over 130 years ago.
This is too broad a topic to discuss here but there is much information available from many sources.

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