As each new European settlement developed in America, the indigenes were forced to withdraw from their land. They withdrew after signing agreements showing that they had sold their lands. They were given only petty sums for their land. The Europeans often offered bigger amounts to the indigenes but actually gave them only smaller sums when the signing was done and thus they cheated the indigenes. Even the people in authority did not feel anything wrong in getting the land from the indigenes by questionable methods.
The indigenes did not give up their land without a fight. Between 1865 and 1890, the US army had to suppress a series of riots. Around this time the Metis in Canada made an armed conflict. Later they gave up their armed struggle.