What was the primary purpose of the Treaty of Medicine Lodge?

The Treaty of Medicine Lodge, signed in 1867, aimed primarily to relocate Native Americans onto reservations. This treaty was a significant effort by the U.S. government to establish peace between the Native American tribes of the Southern Plains and settlers, while also facilitating the expansion of American settlers into these areas. By creating reservations, the government sought to manage Native American populations and reduce conflicts over land.

The treaty provided for specific areas of land to be designated as reservations for various tribes, offering them a designated space to live while also paving the way for the United States to further its interests in these territories. It marked a shift from previous policies of warfare and displacement to a more diplomatic approach, albeit one that still aimed at controlling Native American existence and rights.

While economic assistance and negotiations for land sales were included in broader policies of the time, the primary focus of the Treaty of Medicine Lodge was to create a system of reservations that would restrict Native American tribes to certain lands and reduce their mobility and sovereignty. Therefore, recognizing the context and implications of the treaty underscores why the relocation aspect stands as its primary purpose.