Final answer:
The conflict between the United States government and Native Americans was characterized by misunderstandings about land ownership, treaties that were often broken, and violence as settlers moved westward. Notable conflicts include the Northwest Indian War and the Plains Wars, which led to Native tribes being forced onto reservations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pattern of conflict between the United States government and Native Americans has been a consistent strain throughout U.S. history. Traditions of land ownership among Native American tribes did not typically involve legal ownership as understood by European settlers, leading to fundamental misunderstandings and conflicts over territory. As Americans pushed westward, they came into territory inhabited by various Native tribes, leading to increased tensions and frequent violent conflicts.
In an attempt to solve the 'Indian problem' that arose from settlers encroaching on Native American lands, the U.S. government engaged in a series of negotiations and treaties, often resulting in further disputes and warfare. Notably, the formation of the Miami Confederacy, a union of various tribes who aimed to resist U.S. expansion and create a united front, led to the Northwest Indian War from 1785-1795. Despite occasional Native American victories, the prevailing outcome of these conflicts was a transformation of tribal life, with many tribes being forced onto reservations.During the presidency of George Washington, the relationships with Native Americans grew particularly contentious as settlers continued to move westward into Ohio territory, leading to wars and, ultimately, the Treaty of Greenville which surrendered Native claims to Ohio lands. Conflicts continued on the Great Plains as railroads and settlements disrupted the lives of the Plains Indians, leading to the Plains Wars.