Final answer:
During America's westward expansion, most American Indians were forced to relocate to reservations and give up their lands and traditional ways of life.
Step-by-step explanation:
Forced Relocation of Native Americans
During the westward expansion of America, most American Indians were forced to abandon their homelands and relocate. Initially, following the Indian Removal Act of 1830, tribes east of the Mississippi River were compelled to move to lands in the west. As White Americans continued to settle in the west, Native Americans faced further displacement, leading to their confinement on reservations.
These reservations were federal lands where traditional economic practices proved difficult, rendering tribes dependent on the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for support. Native Americans were also subjected to cultural assimilation efforts, such as conversion to Christianity and having their children sent to boarding schools where they were forced to adopt English and forsake their traditional culture.
The displacement had multiple devastating effects on tribes. Reservation land was usually poor in quality, hindering attempts at farming or raising livestock. Additionally, the loss of traditional lands contributed to the breakdown of social structures and way of life for many Native American communities.