APIDA Study Guide: U.S. Government &
Native American Relations
Professional study guide compiled from original class notes.
Early Colonial Conflicts
Pequot War (1636–1638): Early conflict; ~700 Pequot killed, many captured and
enslaved; driven by colonial desire for land/resources.
Beaver Wars (1629–1701): Conflicts over the fur trade between the Haudenosaunee
Confederacy, the French, and allies in the Great Lakes region.
King Philip's War (1675–1676): One of colonial America's deadliest wars; nearly 7,000
deaths; reflected growing resistance to colonial expansion.
Key Theme
Peace often came only after warfare.
Both sides frequently viewed war as the primary way to settle disputes.
Conflicts rarely produced lasting solutions.
Treaties
A treaty is a formal written agreement between governments or political authorities.
Purpose: establish peace, alliances, and legal obligations.
Treaty of Fort Pitt (1778)
First formal treaty between the U.S. government and a Native nation.
Intended to build cooperation during the Revolutionary War.
Promised recognition and protections for the Lenape (Delaware), but many promises
were later broken as settlers expanded westward.
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Created to manage U.S.–Native relations.
Expanded federal authority over Native nations.
Policies often reduced tribal self-governance.
Native American Relations
Professional study guide compiled from original class notes.
Early Colonial Conflicts
Pequot War (1636–1638): Early conflict; ~700 Pequot killed, many captured and
enslaved; driven by colonial desire for land/resources.
Beaver Wars (1629–1701): Conflicts over the fur trade between the Haudenosaunee
Confederacy, the French, and allies in the Great Lakes region.
King Philip's War (1675–1676): One of colonial America's deadliest wars; nearly 7,000
deaths; reflected growing resistance to colonial expansion.
Key Theme
Peace often came only after warfare.
Both sides frequently viewed war as the primary way to settle disputes.
Conflicts rarely produced lasting solutions.
Treaties
A treaty is a formal written agreement between governments or political authorities.
Purpose: establish peace, alliances, and legal obligations.
Treaty of Fort Pitt (1778)
First formal treaty between the U.S. government and a Native nation.
Intended to build cooperation during the Revolutionary War.
Promised recognition and protections for the Lenape (Delaware), but many promises
were later broken as settlers expanded westward.
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Created to manage U.S.–Native relations.
Expanded federal authority over Native nations.
Policies often reduced tribal self-governance.
