Indian Intercourse Act of 1834

Definition

This was a United States federal law that aimed to regulate commerce between American Indians and non-Indians. It established the "Indian Territory" in what is now Oklahoma, where many Native American tribes were relocated.

Analogy

Think of this like a school principal setting up specific zones on the playground for different groups of students. The intention might be to reduce conflicts, but it also restricts freedom and can lead to resentment or even more serious issues.

Related terms

Indian Removal Act: A law passed in 1830 that forced many Native American nations to move west of the Mississippi River.

Trail of Tears: The forced relocation during the 1830s of Eastern Woodlands Indians of the Southeast region of the U.S. (including Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Seminole) resulting in great death and suffering.

Manifest Destiny: The 19th-century doctrine or belief that expansion throughout the American continent was both justified and inevitable.