NA 3) Native American Responsibility

Question 1

Why, for most of the period, did the NAs do little to directly help the advancement of their civil rights?

Answer 1

Divisions between tribes made it easier for state and federal gov.s to pursue aims.
Fought gov. during Plains Wars but also each other; tribes often willing to provide US forces with guides to aid pursuit of other tribes

Question 2

What was the impact of the lack of unity?

Answer 2

Unable to provide a united front against gov.
Lack of unity continued on reservations, which made it harder to stop theft of lands
Many tribal leaders = aware they could not resist superior gov. forces and made treaties

Question 3

Why was the Society of American Indians (1911) a failure?

Answer 3

Lack of funds
Lack of mass support
NAs = spread out
No agreed aim for future

Question 4

What was the Meriam Report (1928)?

Answer 4

Group of reformers, social scientists, anthropologists wanted to preserve NA culture
Condemned allotment policy + outlined terrible conditions

Question 5

What was the result of the Meriam Report?

Answer 5

Concluded that gov. should be concerned with “the social and economic advancement of Indians”
Encouraged change, leading to Rhoads reforms (1929) and reforms of New Deal

Question 6

What were the Rhoads reforms?

Answer 6

Closed reservation boarding schools
Replaced them with better schools
Improved medical facilities

Question 7

Who was responsible for the New Deal reforms?

Answer 7

Americans, like John Collier

Not the NAs

Question 8

When did tribes first join together to improve their position and rights?

Answer 8

The est. of the National Congress of American Indians (1944)

Question 9

How did WW2 help the development of NA c.r?

Answer 9

Sig. number of NAs fought and experienced racism + discrimination
Encouraged them to join campaigns, pressure groups

Question 10

How did the NCAI exert pressure on the gov.?

Answer 10

Gov. est. Indian Claims Commission
Initially appeared to be the means by which native lands could be returned
But, disappointing as compensation was usually given rather than return of lands

Question 11

How did Black Power inspire NAs?

Answer 11

Adopted a more militant approach
Culminated in est. of AIM (1968)
Emergence of Red Power
Many tactics + pride in race + desire to create mass movement = inspired by Malcolm X & Black Power

Question 12

When was the period of most concerted NA action?

Answer 12

1969-mid 70s
How far this influenced Nixon and Ford is up for debate
Coinciding of Red Power with two sympathetic presidents resulted in greatest period of improvement

Question 13

What were the five main NA actions from 1968-75 that were aimed at drawing attention to the condition of the NAs?

Answer 13

Est. of AIM
Fish-in in Washington State
Publication of sig. works of literature; made others aware of NA culture, history, problems faced
Pursued cases through SC
Siege of Alcatraz

Question 14

What was the goal of AIM?

Answer 14

Fight discrimination of young NAs
Est. group to patrol streets + monitor police activities
Resulted in decline in no. of NA arrests

Question 15

Who did the island of Alcatraz originally belong to?

Answer 15

The Ohlone Indians

Question 16

What were the stages of the Siege of Alcatraz?

Answer 16

Nov. 1969: group of NAs from a range of tribes occupied the empty prison + demanded its return
Led by Richard Oakes
Lasted 19 months (June 1971)
Over 10,000 Indians visited during Siege
Unsuccessful in gaining land

Question 17

What was the result of the worldwide media coverage of the Siege of Alcatraz?

Answer 17

Made the world aware of NA conditions
May have forced gov. to reconsider policies
Encouraged NAs to become more involved in movement
Other NAs occupied gov. land
United NAs - sig. change from start of period
AIM gained publicity - imp. as NAs only = 1% of electorate; unable to achieve anything through ballot box

Question 18

Why is there a debate about the actions of the Siege of Alcatraz?

Answer 18

Violence split the movement; limited the impact

Police/militia ended occupation; counterproductive + went against NA beliefs

Question 19

Explain the 1971 occupation of Mount Rushmore, Black Hills.

Answer 19

Sacred burial ground of Sioux
Protestors est. camp but were evicted
NAs have continued to claim the Black Hills and est. further camps
Ownership of land still in dispute

Question 20

Explain the 1972 AIM takeover of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Answer 20

Part of the ‘Trail of Broken Treaties Caravan’ aimed to draw attention to treaties that gov.s had broken
Coincided with pres. election; gained further publicity
Supposed to be a peaceful protest; handed a list of 20 issues
Had no accommodation; took over bureau; evicted; violence

Question 21

Explain the 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee.

Answer 21

Site of Sioux massacre in 1890
Lasted 71 days; violence; resisted gov. agents
Negotiated settlement
Two leaders arrested; later acquitted

Question 22

Explain the 1975 Pine Ridge Resveration shootings.

Answer 22

Near Wounded Knee
Violence led to shootings
2 FBI agents + 1 protestor died
Member of AIM found guilty of murder
Appeal Court blamed killings on overreaction of authorities

Question 23

Summarise the progress of NA c.r advancement.

Answer 23

Ending of tribal rivalry + subsequent unity
Red Power movement exerted considerable pressure on gov.s, who saw that the NAs were capable of being assertive
Realisation from gov.s that NAs had previously been treated unfairly