Final answer:
Treaty makers coerced American Indian chiefs to agree to their demands through negotiation, promises, economic incentives, and threats of military force. Many tribes signed treaties under extreme pressure, which often led to broken promises and dependency on federal government provisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Treaty makers used a variety of methods to induce American Indian chiefs to agree to their demands during the period of western settlement. The primary means were negotiating and making promises, offering economic incentives, and the implicit or explicit threat of military force. Tactics such as offering annual stipends instead of cash and promising lands forever—often broken promises—were utilized to persuade tribal leaders to sign treaties. Many of these treaties were made under duress, with tribes facing the possibility of forced removal or the loss of opportunities for secure land bases and provisions for future generations.
When treaties were rejected by tribes, it was often due to the perceived lack of authority of individuals who signed them or because the signatures were obtained under extreme pressure, with tribes choosing survival over justice. However, the majority of natives felt compelled to accept the government's terms, which made many dependent on federal stipends and unable to maintain their traditional lifestyles.
Some American Indians resisted the U.S. government’s actions, and this resistance sometimes led to violent conflicts and even massacres when settlers invaded native lands without waiting for new treaties. Over time, tribal communities have fought for their treaty rights, with some successes, particularly regarding natural resource access, as seen in federal court rulings on native fishing rights in the late 20th century.