From 1855 to 1890, western settlement increasingly brought Americans and American Indians into conflict with one another, especially on the plains. Analyze the causes and effects of these conflicts. (This is meant to be an essay)

Westward expansion beyond the American frontier was one of the most significant historical events in North American history. The United States quickly became one of the twentieth century’s most powerful nations after settling more than three million square miles of rich, diverse land. Despite the rewards, the expansion resulted in great destruction, suffering, and cultural loss to Native American peoples. Warfare between whites and Native Americans began as early as 1809 and ended in 1890, when the Indians were ultimately defeated and forced to live on reservations. Despite heavy military involvement in the Indian Wars, the final conquest of Native Americans rested squarely on the shoulders of the vast numbers of white settlers who wrested land from the native peoples.

The dream of westward expansion goes back to the American Revolution. Beginning with the Ordinances of 1785 and 1787, which encouraged the survey and sale of lands west of what had been the British colonies, the government promoted expansion while protecting Native Americans—an idea that would later prove quite contradictory. In the beginning, pioneers were motivated to buy and cultivate more and more land to grow crops to not only feed themselves, but to sell for a profit. This small but growing capitalist endeavor foreshadowed the direction westward expansion would take in later years.

Explanation:

got this from a website, so u have to change some stuff.

if you need any just message me on here i geuss and i'll you out with it

explanation: