Before 1860,the traditional policy of the federal government was to regard Indians partly as
A) members of dependent states.
B) a natural enemy of the United States.
C) wards of the president of the United States.
D) non-humans.
E) citizens of the United States.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Before 1860, the federal government regarded Indians as wards of the president of the United States. This was known as the "paternalistic" policy, in which the government believed it had a responsibility to protect and care for Indian communities, but also believed that Indians were inferior and needed guidance from white Americans. This policy was reflected in the creation of Indian reservations and the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which forced many Indians to relocate from their ancestral lands to reservations.

Before 1860,the Traditional Policy of the Federal Government Was to Regard