How did the incorporation of western territories into the United States affect Indian nations such as the Sioux or the Nez Pierce?

Begin reading with the Indian Apppropriations Act.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States#American_expansion_justification

is this an appropritate answer?

-The Sioux people were among the largest most adaptive of all Indian nations. Buffalo played a major role into their culture. Buffalo hide meant food and clothing for this tribe and many other needs as well. Therefore, the slaughter of buffalo provoked a crisis for the Sioux people. Essentially their way of life was undermined and their food sources were practically destroyed. The ones slaughtering the buffalo, were trying to break tribal resistance to the reservation system, and they did leaving the Sioux and many other tribes concluding that they could only fight or die. It is important that issues like this did not only affect Sioux, it happened to all Indian nations as a result of many treaties signed forcing removal of tribes.

That explains more about the effects of settlers in Indian lands than the effects of the territories being incorporated into the U.S.

To understand how the incorporation of western territories into the United States affected Indian nations such as the Sioux or the Nez Perce, one must delve into the historical events and policies that shaped the relationship between Native Americans and the U.S. government. Here's an explanation:

1. Expansion of Settlements: As the United States expanded westward during the 19th century, it encroached upon traditional Native American territories. The arrival of settlers, gold miners, and railroad construction exacerbated conflicts over land and resources.

2. Treaties and Reservations: To mitigate tensions, the U.S. government negotiated treaties with various Indian nations, including the Sioux and the Nez Perce. These treaties often involved the cession of land to the U.S. in exchange for reserved territories known as reservations. However, many treaties were later violated or renegotiated, leading to further disputes and displacement.

3. Indian Removal Act: In 1830, the Indian Removal Act was passed, authorizing the relocation of Native Americans from their ancestral lands to designated territories further west. This displacement disrupted traditional ways of life and created immense hardships for many tribes, including the Cherokee and Creek, although it had a lesser impact on the Sioux and the Nez Perce.

4. Indian Wars: As conflicts intensified, military clashes erupted between Native Americans and the U.S. government. Notably, the Sioux Wars (1862-1868) and the Nez Perce War (1877) were significant conflicts arising from the encroachment of settlers onto Indian lands and violations of treaty agreements. These wars resulted in significant loss of life and led to the subjugation and confinement of Native American peoples.

5. Reservation System: Following these conflicts, Native American tribes were often forced onto reservations, where their autonomy and traditional practices were severely curtailed. The reservation system imposed restrictions on hunting, fishing, and land use, pushing many tribes into poverty and dependence on government assistance.

In summary, the incorporation of western territories into the United States resulted in profound and far-reaching effects on Indian nations such as the Sioux or the Nez Perce. It led to conflicts and wars, loss of land and resources, the displacement of tribes, and the imposition of the reservation system, which significantly altered the way of life for Native American peoples. To delve deeper into this topic, studying specific events and historical documents related to these tribes would be valuable.