Final answer:
Reservations played a crucial role in the westward expansion by attempting to segregate and control Native American populations, which led to cultural upheaval and loss of land. The failed promises and forced assimilation policies that accompanied the reservation system resulted in dependency and a diminished way of life for Native American tribes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Role of Reservations in Settling the West & Ending the Plains Indian Wars
The role of reservations was pivotal in settling the West and ending the Plains Indian Wars. The Treaty of Fort Laramie and subsequent treaties established reservations to create peace and make way for westward expansion, with promises of annual payments and noninterference. However, corruption, unfulfilled promises, and increased settler encroachment led to numerous conflicts. As a result, Native American tribes were pushed onto reservations, often on marginal lands unsuitable for their traditional ways of life, leading to dependency on government support and attempts to assimilate the Native Americans into American society.
Despite the establishment of a corridor through the Great Plains intended for safe passage of settlers, the ever-growing white population displaced Native Americans from reservations as these lands became desirable. Forced assimilation policies, such as the promotion of Christian worship and education, targeted Native American cultures. Ultimately, the reservation system was characterized by broken promises, systemic displacement, and cultural upheaval for Indigenous peoples.
Throughout this period, reformers began to criticize the outright violence and promoted Americanization policies, which had profound effects on Native American societies. By the end of the 19th century, many tribes had lost the majority of their ancestral lands, and the remaining reservation lands were further reduced and alienated.