Final answer:
The period between 1860 and 1890 saw significant conflicts between the US government and Native American tribes due to the ideology of Manifest Destiny which justified American territorial expansion. Expansionism led to the Indian Wars and forced relocation of Native tribes onto reservations. The era was marked by both violent confrontations and efforts at reform to address the Native American issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The period of 1860 to 1890 in American history was marked by significant conflicts between the United States government and Native American tribes in the West.
The concept of Manifest Destiny, which emerged in the 1840s, justified American territorial expansion with a belief in the inherent right of the United States to spread over the entire North American continent. This ideology led to invasions of Native lands and a quest to reshape the territory through Americanization, railway expansion, and economic development.
The collisions between settlers and Native American nations, such as those on the Plains, often resulted in violent conflicts known as the Indian Wars. These wars disrupted Native cultures and eventually led to the relocation of many tribes onto reservations. The struggle over land and resources was a defining element of westward expansion and is reflected in occurrences like the settlement of California and the movement of settlers on the Oregon Trail.
Amidst these tensions, some reformers sought peaceful solutions to the so-called "Indian problem," advocating for policies that would protect Native American rights and their ways of life. However, economic and ideological pressures continued to drive expansionism in an era where industry and agriculture were rapidly transforming America.