Final answer:
Berkeley's group's view on policy toward Native American tribes was marred by conflict as residents resented Berkeley's defensive posture and resulting taxes, leading to Bacon's Rebellion. In contrast, later government policies advocated for relocation to reservations or Americanization efforts aimed at assimilating Native Americans into society, often justified by perceived threats or economic interests.
Step-by-step explanation:
Historically, the policy toward Native American tribes varied significantly over time and was shaped by conflict, economic interests, and governmental actions. During the time of Governor William Berkeley, there was a public outcry for direct action against Native American tribes, aggravated by what many colonists perceived as Berkeley's inadequate protection of the frontier from Native American attacks. This led to Nathaniel Bacon leading a rebellion, known as Bacon's Rebellion, in part as a response to Berkeley's refusal to allow the colonists to attack Native Americans. In stark contrast to this aggressive stance, the policy in the 19th century, under federal government influence, evolved towards forced relocation of Native American tribes onto reservations, which was presented as a 'benevolent policy of the Government,' and such relocation was seen as 'progressive' compared to the prevalent sentiment of outright extermination.
Figures such as President Andrew Johnson showed little interest in the fate of Native Americans, and while some, like President Ulysses S. Grant, expressed regret for injustices, they largely perceived Indian affairs as a matter of national security and expansion. The views of the military often echoed this sentiment, seeing Native American tribes as remnants of a vanquished Confederacy and a potential threat. Meanwhile, leaders like President Thomas Jefferson recognized the inevitability of conflicts over land and foresaw that some Native groups would be displaced in favor of white settlers, as was already occurring through debt repayments and land cessions.
By the 1870s and 1880s, public opinion was mixed, with some advocating the extermination of Native Americans while others, eventually forming the Progressive Movement, began criticizing the violence and proposed Americanization policies aimed at assimilating Native Americans into society. This included policies promoting individual land ownership, Christian worship, and education aimed at eroding Native life and culture.