Question

which statement best describes the impact of the discovery of gold on american indian territory in the 1850s and 1870s?
○ war broke out among american indian groups when warring chiefs signed new treaties with the government.
○ war broke out when white settlers pressured the government to take the land from american indians.
○ war broke out among american indian groups when some groups sold their land to the government.
○ war broke out when white settlers tried to buy land from warring american indian groups.

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: There's no indication that war among Indian groups started due to chiefs signing treaties. The main conflict was with white settlers, not internal over treaties.
• Option 2: When gold was discovered on Indian territory, white settlers wanted the land. They pressured the government to acquire it from Indians, leading to conflict and war. This aligns with historical context.
• Option 3: War among Indian groups over selling land to the government is not the primary impact of gold discovery. The main issue was white settlers' demand for land.
• Option 4: White settlers didn't try to buy land from warring Indian groups; they pressured the government to take it, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

B. War broke out when white settlers pressured the government to take the land from American Indians.