1. The Sovereign Status of Native Nations
In the early years of the United States, Native American tribes were recognized as sovereign entities, separate from the new nation. The government negotiated treaties with these tribes as it would with foreign countries, acknowledging their rights to self-govern and manage their own affairs. However, this unique legal status kept Native peoples outside the framework of U.S. citizenship and denied them participation in the nation’s political life. Read more from the Library of Congress
