What effect did Reconstruction have on Native Americans?

• A. Increased land ownership
• B. Westward expansion and government involvement in their affairs
• C. Better healthcare access
• D. Reforestation programs

Answer: (B)

Reconstruction had a significant impact on Native Americans, largely through the continuation of westward expansion and increased government involvement in their affairs. After the Civil War, the federal government focused on settling the West, which led to a systematic push into Native American territories. This period saw policies that aimed to assimilate Native Americans into American society by promoting farming and schooling, often at the cost of their traditional lifestyles and land.

During this time, the establishment of reservations became more common, which restricted Native American movements and land holdings. Treaties were frequently broken by the government, leading to loss of territory and further marginalization of Native communities. The push for westward expansion was often justified by the ideology of Manifest Destiny, which held that the U.S. was destined to expand across the continent, often disregarding the rights and needs of Indigenous peoples.

The other options do not accurately reflect the historical impact of Reconstruction on Native Americans. While land ownership could have increased for some individuals under certain policies, the broader trend was one of dispossession. Healthcare access was not significantly improved during this period; it continued to lag far behind what was available to non-Native populations. Similarly, reforestation programs were not a focus of Reconstruction efforts and do not capture the realities faced