Final answer:
The claim that the acquisition of land was the most important motivating factor in the formulation of early U.S. Indian policy is true. The U.S. government's expansionist policies drove them to obtain land from Native Americans through treaties and other means, leading to events like the Trail of Tears.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, the acquisition of land was indeed the most important motivating factor in the formulation of early U.S. Indian policy. This strategy arose from the early colonial period and continued through the Westward Expansion. The policy was symbolized by various acts and measures such as the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which led to events like the infamous Trail of Tears where thousands of Native Americans were forcibly relocated.
During that time, expansionist desires drove the U.S. government to negotiate treaties, often through coercive means, to acquire lands that were inhabited by Native American tribes. The underlying goal was to pave the way for increasing settlement by European Americans, agricultural development, and eventually, economic growth. This has been well documented by historians and is a critical aspect of understanding U.S. history and its early expansionist policies towards indigenous peoples.