How did presidential opinions and the Supreme Court affect Native Americans? Flashcards
Which presidents were a hindrance to NAs?
-Lincoln
-Grant
-Cleveland
How did Lincoln hinder NAs?
- Harsh treatment - ‘ordered that of the Indians and Half-breeds sentenced to be hanged by the military commission’
-establishment of reservations, poor funding amidst civil war
-the Homestead Act (1862) increased conflict with white Americans
How did Grant hinder NAs?
-Indian Appropriations Act (1871) no independent nation recognised, forced NA onto reservations and took prime land away from them
How did Cleveland hinder NAs?
-Dawes Severalty Act (1887) - allotments to assimilate NA
Which presidents supported NAs?
-Hoover
-FDR
-Truman - Carter
-Coolidge
How did Hoover support NAs?
-in response to the Meriam Report of 1928 he appointed Charles Rhoads Indian Commissioner and a reform package was put together focusing on education and health care
-but didn’t condemn assimilation
How did FDR support NAs?
-focused on protecting the rights of NA - “All of our people all over the country – except the pure blooded Indians – are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, including even those who came over here on the Mayflower.” 1934 - Wheeler Howard Act - self determination over land, region etc
How did Truman - Carter support NAs?
-Indian Claims Commission 1946-1978 -> appeared to provide an opportunity to claim land that had been lost by treaties in the 19th century
How did Coolidge support NAs?
-Meriam Report 1928 ->NA equivalent to ‘To secure these right’ -> it condemned the allotment policy which had failed to provide economic support for the NAs
Which Supreme Court judgements hindered NAs?
-Cherokee Nation vs Hitchcock
-Lone Wolf vs Hitchcock
-Harrison vs Laveen
How did Cherokee Nation vs Hitchcock hinder NAs?
-1902 - Cherokee tribe challenged congress for the denial of their rights to live according to their own laws and traditions -> failed
How did Lone Wolf vs Hitchcock hinder NAs?
-1903 - Supreme Court supported the power of the US government to revoke all treaties made with NAs -> led to further acquisition of land
How did Harrison vs Laveen (Arizona) hinder NAs?
-1948 - 2 NA challenged the refusal to register to vote - test case and it was successful but other states continued to restrict voting - hindered and set a precedent
Which Supreme Court judgements supported NAs?
-Oneida vs Oneida and Madison Countries (New York)
-Fisher vs Montana
-Seminole Tribe vs Butterworth
-Charrier vs Bell
How did Oneida vs Oneida and Madison Countries (New York) support NAs?
-1974 - The Oneida tribe sued for the return of their lands -> court decided in their favour which led to an increase in other tribes seeking to regain lost land
How did Fisher vs Montana support NAs?
-1976 - sought to overturn a ruling that had forcibly removed NA children as part of ‘Americanisation’ -> Tribal courts would now decide on adoption and also recognised the importance of tribal courts
How did Seminole Tribe vs Butterworth support NAs?
-1982 - Seminole were granted the right to establish gambling businesses on their land, which went against state law -> overruled state law and proved that the Native Americans had their own rights on their own land
How did Charrier vs Bell support NAs?
-1986 - NARF took to court that remains in land in Louisiana belonged to NA-> overruled state law and proved that the NAs had their own rights to their own land - ruled in their favour -> States passed laws which protected Native American burial lands
