1. Manifest Destiny: This belief, prevalent in the 19th century, held that the United States had a divine right and duty to expand its territory westward. It was often used to justify the displacement and subjugation of Native American tribes.
2. Religious Superiority: Many white Americans believed that their Christian faith made them superior to Native Americans, whom they saw as heathens or savages. They believed it was their duty to Christianize Native Americans and "civilize" them.
3. Social Darwinism: This theory, popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, held that different races were inherently unequal. It was used to justify the belief that white Americans were naturally superior to Native Americans and had the right to dominate them.
4. Assimilation: Many policymakers believed that the best way to "solve" the "Indian problem" was to assimilate Native Americans into white society. This involved suppressing Native languages, cultures, and traditions and forcing Native children into boarding schools where they were taught to adopt white ways of life.
5. Land Acquisition: The desire for land and resources was a significant factor in white Americans' treatment of Native Americans. Settlers and government officials often viewed Native lands as empty or underutilized and sought to acquire them for farming, mining, and other economic purposes.
6. Fear and Stereotyping: Some white Americans feared Native Americans and held negative stereotypes about them, viewing them as violent, savage, and untrustworthy. These fears and stereotypes were often used to justify policies of segregation, removal, and violence against Native American communities.
7. Legal Framework: The United States government established a series of laws and policies that created the legal framework for the dispossession and displacement of Native Americans. These included the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which authorized the forced removal of Native tribes from their ancestral lands to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River.
8. Cultural Bias: Many white Americans held ethnocentric views, believing their culture and values were superior to those of Native Americans. This cultural bias influenced their perceptions of Native American societies, leading to policies that disregarded Native American rights and interests.
It's important to note that these justifications were often used to rationalize and legitimize policies that resulted in the forced removal, dispossession, displacement, and cultural genocide of Native American tribes, leading to devastating consequences for Native American communities. Today, there is a growing recognition and understanding of the historical injustice done to Native Americans and a movement towards reconciliation, sovereignty, and the preservation of Native cultures and traditions.