Native Americans, U.S. Military Relations with
Native Americans, U.S. Military Relations with.American military history twists around and through Native American lives like a corkscrew. Of all the direct relationships that developed between Native Americans and the various offices, agencies, and branches of the federal government, none has been more ambiguous than that which evolved between the tribes and the U.S. Army. As an agent of conquest, the army undeniably used violence and terror to subjugate the tribes. But the violence was arbitrary and sporadic rather than methodical and unremitting. The army also performed numerous administrative tasks connected with Indian affairs, played an important diplomatic and ceremonial role in treaty negotiations, served as a constabulary on the reservations, sometimes provided tribes with rudimentary health care, distributed rations and annuities, and often acted as an intermediary between different tribes as well as between local whites and...
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