Because the French did not permanently settle inside the Louisiana area, they were able to have mutual peace with the Indians, and traded with them. However, after the purchase of the territory by the US, the US expected to be able to settle inside. Conflicting culture, fight over the same territory, as well as other factors made it hard for most US settlers to interact peacefully with the Indians ( a sharp contrast between most interactions of the Lewis & Clark expedition and Indian tribes). Soon, the Indians saw that their way of life was being destroyed, and so they declared war on the US, and through a series of battles known as the American ~ Indian War, the Native Americans were forced onto reservations. There, the way of life for the Indians were drastically changed, as traditions they practiced were seen as inhumane by Americans. They were forced under white regulation, and had to follow all rules. In the years following the Louisiana Purchase, it is seen as a downward spiral for the American Indians, not only to be defeated, but to be mistreated as a minority in the years to come.
