Why were the treaties between indigenous people and the us government not enforceable
There are several reasons why treaties between indigenous people and the U.S. government were not enforceable:
1. Power Imbalance: The U.S. government was often more powerful and had military superiority over indigenous nations. This power imbalance made it difficult for indigenous peoples to enforce the terms and conditions of the treaties.
2. Lack of Legal Protection: In the early years of the United States, there was no legal framework or established system to enforce treaties with indigenous nations. The legal status of treaties with indigenous tribes was ambiguous, as they were not considered equal to foreign treaties.
3. Broken Promises: The U.S. government frequently violated the agreements and promises made in the treaties. The government often disregarded treaty provisions, failed to honor obligations, or manipulated indigenous groups to cede more land or resources than initially agreed upon.
4. Cultural Differences: The U.S. government and indigenous nations had different cultural understandings and interpretations of the treaties. This led to misunderstandings and conflicting expectations, making it challenging to implement and enforce the agreements.
5. Land Hunger: As the United States expanded westward, settlers and the government desired more land for agriculture, settlements, and resources. This often led to the disregard of treaty provisions, resulting in the forced removal of indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands.
6. Changing Government Policies: Government policies towards indigenous peoples evolved throughout history. Many treaties, initially signed in good faith, were later undermined or rendered obsolete as the U.S. government pursued assimilationist policies or enacted legislation that violated the terms of existing treaties.
7. Legal Manipulation: In some cases, the U.S. government used legal strategies to undermine the enforceability of treaties. This involved exploiting technicalities, creating reservations with unclear boundaries, or using the courts to reinterpret treaty provisions in ways that weakened indigenous rights.
It is important to note that this response provides a general overview, and the issues surrounding treaty enforcement are complex and varied across different periods and indigenous nations.