Final answer:
The type of land and resource availability largely influenced where tribes were placed, with tradition and intertribal relations also playing roles. Conflicts arose with forced relocations and European expansion, with some lands desired for their natural resources or transportation routes.
Step-by-step explanation:
In understanding why tribes were placed in certain areas, we can infer that the type of land and available resources played a central role in the establishment and movement of Native American tribes. Tradition, cooperation, and conflict shaped the political life of the tribes and their concepts of land ownership, which differed significantly from European settlers.
Tribes in the Pacific Northwest, for example, benefited from an abundance of resources that allowed complex societies to develop, whereas the Great Plains presented opportunities for a nomadic lifestyle following the buffalo, especially after the introduction of horses by the Spanish.
Conflict arose when tribes were relocated, often to lands already occupied by other Native Americans, leading to struggles over the dwindling amount of land and resources. European colonization and expansion further compounded the issue as white settlers and the federal government encroached onto tribal territories, leading to further displacement.
The placement of tribes in specific regions was also influenced by whether the land was coveted for its timber resources, agricultural potential, or as part of the expanding railway system, often resulting in tribes being swindled out of their lands.