Final answer:
The first four U.S. presidents grappled with western development and Native American relations through treaties like the Treaty of Greenville, which faced challenges as settlers moved beyond agreed boundaries, ultimately reflecting the complexities of establishing a new government's authority in the region.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first four presidents of the United States faced significant challenges in developing the West and managing relations with Native Americans. The Treaty of Greenville, signed during Washington's administration after the Northwest Indian War, ceded substantial lands in the Ohio Valley to the U.S. and established the 'Greenville Treaty Line' for Native lands. However, this agreement, intended to create a 'lasting boundary,' was soon tested as settlers encroached on these lands.
During the administrations of Adams, Jefferson, and Madison, other treaties were negotiated with varying outcomes for the development of the West. Each treaty aimed to address frontier violence, secure territorial integrity, and promote peaceful settlement. Yet, the engagement with foreign policies and diplomacies, such as Jay's Treaty and Pinckney's Treaty, reflects the complexities the new government faced in resolving trade and border issues that were essential to the nation's growth.
Despite these treaties, tensions and conflicts persisted, demonstrating the ongoing struggle for the U.S. government in asserting control over western territories while attempting to honor agreements made with Native American tribes.