Answer: C. They had taken goods on credit and now owed money.
Explanation: During the period of westward expansion in the United States, many Native American tribes faced increasing pressures from settlers and the government. This included trade relations with European Americans, where tribes often acquired goods on credit from traders. Over time, these debts accumulated, and some tribes, including the Chickasaw, found themselves in a difficult financial situation.
In order to repay their debts, some Native American tribes agreed to negotiate treaties with the U.S. government that involved the cession of their lands. By giving up their lands, the Chickasaw could potentially settle their debts and alleviate the financial burden they faced.