Final answer:
The Treaty of Greenville was important to the relationship between the federal government and American Indian tribes because it ended the Northwest Indian War and marked the beginning of the practice of paying annuities to the tribes that allowed the U.S. jurisdiction in tribal affairs. However, the treaty's promise of a 'lasting boundary' was not upheld as settlers soon pushed into Indian lands.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Treaty of Greenville was a significant development in the history of relationships between the federal government and American Indian tribes. It is noted that the treaty was instrumental in ending the Northwest Indian War, an event that led to Indians on the Northwest frontier ceding their land in the Ohio Valley to the United States while the land beyond the designated treaty line was reserved for the Indians. Furthermore, the Treaty of Greenville established a practice of paying yearly annuities of money and supplies to the nations that granted the United States a role in tribal affairs, which became a pattern in the later Indian Wars.
In a broader perspective, the Treaty of Greenville served as an affirmation of the capability of the recently formed central government to address foreign governments effectively concerning border and trading issues. However, exploiting the outlined boundaries in the treaty, settlers invaded Indian lands within a few years following the agreement. Thus, while the Treaty of Greenville was intended to form a 'lasting boundary', it failed to provide a lasting peace between the United States and American Indian tribes.
Learn more about Treaty of Greenville