Pioneers wanted the rich farmlands in the Mississippi Valley.  But the lands belonged to the native people.  Piece by piece, a little at a time, Americans took away the homes of the native people.  They were forced to move.  The U.S. government sent them out West.  But there was no planned program to move the natives until after the War of 1812.  (The planned program was called forced removal.)

Jefferson Peace Medal

Learn more about Lewis and Clark!

Lewis and Clark were two explorers.  They carried peace medals on their trip to the Pacific Ocean.  President Jefferson gave the medals to the two explorers, who acted as his agents.  Lewis and Clark talked for the President to the Native Americans. The medals were given only to the most powerful chiefs. But the chiefs had to agree to sign a treaty.  The treaty said the natives would not fight with the whites.