Indian Removal Era Begins 1828-1849

1845-1848

“Debt peonage” of Natives in southwest territories

U.S. acquires Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, over half of Colorado, and parts of Wyoming and Kansas. U.S. inherits institutions of slavery of Indigenous peoples in those states and contends with tribes. California, Utah, and New Mexico legalize Indian slavery under the guise of “debt peonage” (Nies, 1996).

Settler Colonial Policy