Final answer:
The U.S. government backtracked on the enforcement of the Treaty of Fort Laramie after gold was found in the Black Hills, prioritizing economic interests and settler pressures over treaty obligations and Native American rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. government initially distanced itself from the Treaty of Fort Laramie once gold was discovered in the Black Hills due to the immense economic value of the gold and the resulting pressure from miners and settlers looking to exploit the resource.
Under the Treaty of Fort Laramie, the land was acknowledged as belonging to the Native American tribes, but the discovery of gold led to an influx of prospectors. The U.S. government, driven by the potential wealth and growth prospects, consequently chose to prioritize economic interests over treaty obligations. This decision involved dispatching troops to seize control of the Black Hills and compelling the Lakota Sioux to vacate these lands, so as to accommodate the miners flocking to the area.
Despite initial efforts to respect tribal sovereignty as outlined in the treaty, the lure of gold proved too strong leading to military interventions that prioritized territorial gains and economic interests over legal commitments and Native American rights.