Native American rights - federal government Flashcards
what was the purpose of Reservation Policy 1871-87?
Aimed to end their nomadic life and separate them from the buffalo.
It would also be easier to educate them and remove tribal customs.
Called them ‘wards of the state’ who did not have civil rights.
How did Reservation policy worsen after 1871?
The Indian Appropriations Act (1871)
- the Native Americans lost the right of treaties.
- no tribe would be recognised by the government as an independant nation
example of Allotment Policy 1887-1934?
Through the Dawes Act of 1887, where reservation lands were divided into homesteads.
What is Termination Policy 1953-69?
ended the recognition of Native tribes and end reservation system.
Natives were encouraged to relocate by offering them accommodation and help to find work.
What was the impact of WW2?
spending on the war effort meant the reversal of the gains made under the New Deal.
Japanese Americans were forcibly moved to live on reservations alongside Native Americans.
What did the New Deal do?
- John Collier appointed commissioner for Indian affairs - advanced civil rights
- Indian reorganisation act helped to preserve culture and gave them the right to manage their land and mineral assets
- CCC provided 15,000 jobs for natives
How was the New Deal limited?
- assimilation was pursued.
The improvements were therefore designed to convince the Indians of the benefits of assimilation.
What was Nixon’s attitude to Native Americans?
nixon 1969-74
- July 1970, Nixon criticised the treatment of Native Americans, to congress.
- He attacked the federal programmes designed to help them, but which had been dominated by white officials.
- He attacked termination policy, which had failed to improve the lives and ended many lives instead.
What reform did Nixon introduce?
64-79
- Some Native American nations regained recognition and rights, which allowed them access to courts where they could seek redress for their lost rights.
- The pledge to restore lost lands was put into practice with the return of lands to the Yakama Indians.
What was the legislation passed under Ford?
74-77
Indian Self-determination act 1975 allowed tribes to take responsibility for their own education, health and social service provision. Federal funding was provided for these programmes and so there was a further move towards self-sufficiency.
Indian Education Assistance Act 1975 allowed Native Americans to have much greater involvement in their children’s educational process.
What was the legislation passed under Carter?
77-81
The Native American Religious Freedom Act 1978 gave Native Americans the right to follow their traditional religion and use both their sacred objects and rituals.
* The Indian Child Welfare Act 1978 attempted to regulate the forced removal of Native American children from their families. Social workers had often viewed Native American practices as neglect and therefore had still been taking children away.
What is the significance of the federal government on Native Americans?
end of the period
- assimilation was abandoned by 1992 and replaced with self-determination, with government funding.
- The greatest change was in 1970-78, and so saw the greatest improvement.
This suggests the attitude of the presidents to Native Americans was crucial in the developments of rights.
Cherokee v. Hitchcock (1902)
- (1902) Cherokees challenged Congress’ right to deny them their rights.
What is the National Congress of American Indians?
- NCAI formed in 1944, and was a number of pressure groups
- aim to end the iradication of reservations
- The first sign of uniting and organising a protest movement.
What is United states v Sioux nation 1980?
- Sioux were awarded $17.5 million (+ another $106 million in interest charges)
- They rejected the compensation and preferred the return of their land.
