1914–1945 Flashcards
What was the political status of Native Americans by 1914
- Most Native Americans were still considered wards of the federal government
- limited self-determination and without full constitutional rights unless they accepted the Dawes Act
When was the Indian Citizenship Act and what did it do for Native Americans
- 1924
- granted U.S citizenship to all Native Americans born in the US, regardless of where they accepted the land under the Dawes act
How many Native Americans became citizens under the Indian Citizenship Act?
125,000
Did the Indian Citizenship act give Native Americans full voting rights
- No
- many states continued to restrict Native American voting rights through discriminatory state laws until the 1940s and 1950s
Which states implemented these discriminatory state laws?
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Maine
When was the Indian Reorganisation Act and what was the impact on tribal governments?
- 1934
- Restored tribal councils and allowed tribes to draft their own constitutions
- By 1945, 174 tribes had adopted constitutions under the act
How did the Bureau of Indian Affairs influence Native political life from 1914 - 1945
- maintained tight control over reservation affairs
- often interfered with tribal governance until reforms began in the 1930s
When was the Meriam Report and what was its impact on social policy for Native Americans
- 1928
- Exposed poor living conditions, inadequate healthcare, and abusive boarding schools
- lead to calls for reform and the end of forced assimilation
- The report found infant mortality on reservations to be twice the national average
What changes occurred in Native American education during the 1930’s?
- the federal government began to move away from harsh boarding schools towards day schools that respected Native culture and languages
- some boarding schools were reformed while others closed
Who was John Collier?
- leader of the Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1933 - 1945
How did Native American culture fare under John Collier’s leadership of the BIA?
- promoted cultural pluralism and Native religious freedom
- led to ceremonial practices like the Sun Dance to be legalised
- But his methods were sometimes top-down, and he often failed to fully consult with tribes, assuming he knew what was best.
What were the living conditions like on reservations during the 1930s?
- conditions remained poor with high poverty, malnutrition and inadequate housing despite some improvements under New Deal programs
What was the economic impact of the 1934 Indian Reorganisation act?
- halted the allotment process
- tribes could receive loans for economic development, but funding was limited
- restored around 2 million acres of land to tribal ownership, allowing tribes to manage communal resources again
What was the impact of the Great depression on Native Americans?
- Unemployment was extremely high
- over 80% on some reservations due to isolation and lack of infrastructure
When was the Indian New Deal and what was it’s impact on Native economies
- 1934
- programs like the Indian Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) provided jobs and training
- over 85,000 Native Americans were employed by the Indian CCC by 1942
How did many tribes react to the Indian Reorganisation act 1934?
- some welcomed it but others, mainly in the Plains and Southwest, rejected it as federal interference and a lack of trust
- 77 out of 252 tribes rejected the IRA constitutions
What happened with John Collier and the Navajo Tribe
- 1930
- Collier introduced a livestock reduction as he believed that herds were causing land damage
- he enforced the livestock reduction without tribal consent, causing anger
How did the Navajo Tribe respond to Collier’s livestock policy and what was the impact?
- The Navajo opposed the policy, as the herds were key to their culture and economy
- forced reductions led to poverty, resentment, and distrust of colliers reforms
What was the role of the American Indian Defense Association?
- founded in 1923 by John Collier
- worked to defend Native culture and rights
What were the key aims of AIDA?
- Fought against land loss and the Dawes Act
- Protected Native religious practices (e.g. Pueblo dances)
- Promoted tribal self-rule
- Opposed assimilationist BIA policies
Why was the Meriam Report 1928 a turning point for Native Americans’
- promoted major re-evaluation of assimilations policies
- directly influenced the Indian Reorganisation Act ending the allotment era
Why was the Indian Reorganisation act a significant turning point?
marked the official end to the Dawes act and a new era of self-governance, land restoration and cultural protection
How did WWII act as a turning point for Native Americans
- created new job opportunities
- promoted many NA to leave reservations, join the military and migrate to cities
What were the key provisions of the Indian Reorganisation Act 1934?
- ended the allotment of tribal lands
- restored some tribal lands
- encouraged tribal governments
- provided federal funds for economic development
- promoted Native cultural preservation
