Native American Civil Rights Flashcards
When were the Plains Wars?
1862-68
Driven by hunger tribes such as the Sioux and Cheyenne clashed with settlers and the US army
What is ‘Manifest Destiny’?
1845- the belief that White Americans were destined to populate the continent
What was the Homestead Act?
1862- provided free land to settlers if they farmed it for 5 years - encouraged expansion
What were the Indian Treaties?
1851-68- signed by different tribes and the fed govt:
Tribes gave up land in return for annual payments and support to set up an agricultural economy- not fulfilled
When was the Sank Creek Massacre?
1864- 200 women and children dead
What was the Dolittle Report?
1867- blamed violence on aggression of lawless whites
What was the Reservation Policy?
“Americanisation”- locate NAms on govt controlled reservations- could no longer roam freely and tribal beliefs, customs and skills could be eradicated
After 1871- congress makes decision, army used to enforce reservation policy
What was the Battle of Little Bighorn?
1876- General Custer an his cavalry of 200 men tried to round up Sioux and Cheyenne who left reservations and refused to return - all of Custer’s men killed including him
What was the Indian Rights Association? (IRA)
1882- a philanthropic organisation- social activist group devoted to the assimilation of Native Americans, lobbying congress and working in education. Largely religious- Quakers, Catholics, Protestants
What was The Dawes Act?
1887- reservations turned into allotments
However, wanted o turn NAms into American farmers- leads to alienation of land
150m acres - 50m acres of NA land
Get citizenship- doesn’t mean anything to them
Cherkee (lead by women) are not recognised
What was the Massacre at Wounded Knee?
1890- group of Sioux Indians tried to escape their reservation- danced the “Ghost Dance” and frightened white settlers
Reservation police believed Sitting Bull was responsible and shot him when he resisted arrest
escapees were rounded up and slaughtered by wounded knee creek - 200 unarmed men women and children died
What impact did WWI have?
approx 10,000 NAms fight- not segregated units
some families work in defence industries
some Indian women work in factories
war is an accelerator towards assimilation
recognised and honoured
employment opportunities
however not a turning point
What was The Society of American Indians?
1911- 50 educated Indian men
They aim to challenge discrimination through the courts
too divided in vision
short of funds
see assimilation as the only route
westernised and middle class focus
What was the American Indian Defence Association?
1923- AIDA- campaigns for laws to protect the rights of Indians to their land, arts and freedom
formed after research into Pueblo Indians pf Mexico
Lost land as a result of supreme court judgement (1913)
had been banned from performing ritual dances by the DANCE ORDER (1921 and 23)
What was the Indian Citizenship Act?
1924- extends the franchise to NAms
main context is relentless drive to assimilation
not viewed positively
many states on the West deprive Indians of the right to vote in state elections
only in 1957 all states allow Indian voting