Final answer:
The series of events that led to the creation of Ft. Smith involved the establishment of a military garrison as the U.S. government erected forts to assist settlers moving west and to mitigate conflicts with Native American tribes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The creation of Ft. Smith primarily resulted from the establishment of a military garrison. As westward expansion progressed, the U.S. government built forts to aid settlers and manage relations with Native American tribes. Forts like Fort Laramie and Fort Apache were established to foster trade and reduce conflicts. Some forts served specific purposes, such as providing relief to farmers or protection after the Mexican-American War. The initial settlers along the Oregon Trail were prosperous farming families, with more diverse groups following after the Homestead Act and the completion of the transcontinental railroad.
At the core of these developments were negotiations with Native tribes, such as the Treaty of Greenville and the First Treaty of Fort Laramie, which attempted to establish boundaries and reservations. However, government corruption and settler incursions often negated these treaties. Moreover, as the Native American plight intensified due to disrupted buffalo migration and forced adaptation to farming, a series of forts were constructed to ensure the security of settlers' westward movements.