Final answer:
The author of the Harper's Weekly article views the U.S. government's treaties with Native American tribes as not honored, with treatments based on forced assimilation and dependency, often under unfair and coercive conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The view of the author in Harper's Weekly regarding the treaties made by the United States government with various Native American populations is critical and acknowledges the systemic failure to honor those agreements. The author highlights that despite the sovereignty of Native American tribes being recognized by the federal government and treaties being legally binding, the U.S. historically did not uphold the obligations within these treaties. Tribes were forced into signing agreements under great pressure, including threats of force and displacement, and the terms of the treaties frequently involved the transfer of vast amounts of land to the U.S. government.
The author also critiques the treatment of Native Americans by pointing out that the federal policy of 'civilizing natives' was misguided and unjust. Native Americans were often coerced into adopting agricultural lifestyles and settled living on reservations, which were in stark contrast with their traditional ways of life and autonomy. Treaties were sometimes signed by individuals without proper authority, or under duress, leading to a widespread rejection and dissatisfaction among native populations. The provided annual stipends, instead of cash, made many natives dependent on the government, thus undermining their independence and traditional livelihoods.
The historical context, involving leaders such as Helen Hunt Jackson and policies dating back to the Monroe administration, is invoked to underscore the longstanding injustice. Jackson's work, A Century of Dishonor, is particularly noted for documenting the federal government's preference for convenience over justice and the failure to abide by its own treaties. The transition of Native American status from 'sovereign nations' to 'domestic dependent nations' had profound implications for the rights and treatment of Native peoples, including the delayed granting of U.S. citizenship until 1924.