Why were Native Americans placed on Reservations?

The placement of Native Americans on reservations was primarily driven by the desires of American settlers and the federal government to acquire their land and implement a policy of civilization. As westward expansion occurred in the 19th century, settlers sought to occupy lands that had traditionally been inhabited by Native American tribes. The U.S. government implemented various treaties that often led to the removal of Native Americans from their ancestral territories.

The idea of "civilizing" Native Americans was rooted in a belief in the superiority of Euro-American culture, which led to efforts to assimilate Indigenous peoples into mainstream American society. The establishment of reservations was seen as a way to confine Native Americans to specific areas while facilitating their transformation into agricultural societies and Christians, thereby erasing their distinct cultural identities.

This option emphasizes the strategic and oppressive nature of the reservation system, reflecting broader themes of colonialism and cultural erasure within American history. Understanding this context sheds light on the policies that shaped the experiences of Native Americans in the 19th century, making it clear why this answer accurately addresses the motivations behind the establishment of reservations.