Final answer:
The biggest conflict between whites and Native Americans in the early 1800s was based on land. Europeans' belief in private ownership clashed with the Native American practice of communal land use. This led to forced removals, broken treaties, and battles to protect indigenous territories and resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
The biggest conflict between whites and Native Americans in the early 1800s was based on land. The Europeans had a concept of private land ownership and sought to use and subdue the environment as they believed was mandated by their Christian worldview, asserting individual claims on the land and its resources. Conversely, Native Americans did not practice private ownership of land, instead believing in communal usage and following sustainable practices, such as moving with food sources and sharing the land among the tribe.
As European colonization expanded, the demand for land grew, leading to the forced relocation of Native tribes and escalating conflicts over territory. The depletion of resources and the introduction of European goods and weaponry altered native lives and the balance of power between tribes. Treaties were made and broken, and these broken promises often led to battles, as indigenous people fought to protect their land and way of life.