The Indian Question

"The Indian Question" by Francis Amasa Walker is a record from the 1800s that looks at the hard relationship between the U.S. government and Native American tribes, especially focusing on laws and rules made at that time. The book talks about old agreements, the rights of Native people, and problems with their independence and future. Walker starts by explaining law changes that affected how Indian tribes were seen, like the 1871 declaration that said the government would no longer recognize Indian nations as separate. He thinks about what this meant for past agreements and rules that used to acknowledge tribal power. Walker also thinks about the old connections between Native Americans and settlers, pushing for a fresh way to handle Indian matters because things were changing and more people were settling. Walker points out old policies weren't working and that there was an urgent need for kinder, more useful solutions for both the government and the tribes.