The term "Indian Country" refers to the territory occupied by Native American tribes in the United States. It was considered a distinct legal status and had its own set of regulations separate from those of the surrounding states.
Related terms
Dawes Act: Legislation passed in 1887 that aimed to assimilate Native Americans by dividing their land into individual plots for farming.
Indian Reservation: Land set aside by the government for Native American tribes to live on, often with limited self-governance.
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): Federal agency responsible for managing relations between the U.S. government and Native American tribes.