NA political rights

Question 1

what did the Indian Citizenship act do?

Answer 1

• 1924
• granted US citizenship to all NA born in the US

Question 2

What were the negatives of the Indian Citizenship act?

Answer 2

• Did not guarantee the right to vote as many states still used literacy tests and poll tax
• Some NA saw it as forced Assimilation which was opposed by tribes

Question 3

Positives of the Indian Citizenship act on NA

Answer 3

• allowed NA access to some government benefits e.g. disability support and retirement funds as part of the Social Security (1935)
• But those who lived on tribal lands were often excluded because reservations were not covered
• Provided legal recognition of NA as US citizens which could be used in legal battles

Question 4

What did Harrison v Laveen establish

Answer 4

• 1948
• The Arizona Supreme court ruled that NA could not be denied the vote

Question 5

Positive impact of the Harrison v Laveen case

Answer 5

• Gave NA the right to vote under NA law
• helped lead to more political representation as NA could participate in elections and elect NA leaders at state, local and federal levels

Question 6

Negatives of the Harrison v Laveen case

Answer 6

• Many states ignored the ruling and continued to block NA voting rights e.g. New Mexico and Utah until 1962
• Many states also continued to use literacy tests, poll taxes and residency requirements to block voting

Question 7

What did the Oneida v Oneida case establish

Answer 7

• 1974
• the Oneida tribe had the right to sue for the return of their lands

Question 8

What was the impact of the Oneida v Oneida case

Answer 8

• encouraged 370 land claims from other tribes
• increased Native sovereignty through the use of US courts

Question 9

What did the Indian self-determination act do

Answer 9

• 1975
• allowed tribes to govern their own affairs and receive funding for education, healthcare and social services

Question 9

Positives of the Indian self-determination act

Answer 9

• by 1990 over 60% of NA programs were controlled by tribal governments instead of the US gov
• Gave NA greater political independence
• allowed tribes to protect their cultural and religious practises

Question 10

How did NA political representation improve by 1990’s?

Answer 10

• More NA were elected to political office e.g. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, the first NA US senator
• tribes gained greater legal sovereignty
• The US returned some stolen lands back to NA