Indian Agent - Indian Agents in The U.S.: 1800 - 1840s

1840s

From the close of the 18th century to nearly 1828, Congress maintained the position that it was legally responsible for the protection of Indians from non-Indians, and in establishing this responsibility it “continue to deal with Indian tribes by utilizing agents to negotiate treaties under the jurisdiction of the Department of War.”

• Initially, and before the reforms of the late 19th century, an Indian agent’s average duties were as follows:
  • Work toward keeping white settlers and Native Americans from conflict
  • “He was to keep an eye out for violations of intercourse laws and to report them to superintendents”
  • Maintain flexible cooperation with U.S. Army military personnel
  • See to the proper distribution of annuities granted by the state or federal government to various Native American tribes; and this usually occurred through a transfer or money or goods from the Indian agent to the respective chief which would then be distributed to the tribe, although this practice went into decline by the mid-1800s
  • See to the successful removal of tribes from areas procured for settlement to reservations

In the 1830s, the primary role of Indian agents was to assist in commercial trading supervision between white traders and Native Americans, while agents possessed the authority to both issue and revoke commercial trading licenses.

In 1849, the Bureau of Indian Affairs decided to place the position of Indian agent under civilian jurisdiction. This came at a time when many white Americans saw the role of Indian agent as largely inefficient and dishonest in monetary and severalty dealings with various Native American tribes.