Final answer:
The growth of American settlers moving westward led to the government's implementation of Indian removal policies, notably the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which forced Native Americans to relocate west of the Mississippi River, infamously exemplified by the "Trail of Tears."
Step-by-step explanation:
The westward expansion of settlers in America led to increasingly prevalent Indian removal policies because settlers encroached on Native American lands. The U.S. government, perceiving an "Indian problem," eventually intervened with the Indian Removal Act of 1830. President Andrew Jackson, an advocate for such policies, called for all Native Americans east of the Mississippi River to be moved to the west. This act, although theoretically voluntary for Native American nations, in practice involved significant pressure and force. It resulted in the relocation of several tribes, including the Cherokee through the infamous "Trail of Tears." The removal of Native Americans from their lands allowed for white settlement and agricultural development, viewed as progress and a civilizing mission by proponents of the policy. However, this led to significant disruption and suffering for the indigenous populations.