Native American rights - responsibility Flashcards
How did rivalries impact rights?
Native Americans couldn’t present a united front against the government.
Many tribes also fought against each other in the Plains Wars, and provided US forces with guides to aid them in pursuit of other tribes.
This rivalry continued on reservations and added to difficulty in stopping the theft of their lands.
Many tribal leaders knew they couldn’t resist the US government so made treaties with them.
How did Reservations limit unity?
The Society of American Indians 1911 was the first Native American pressure group, but a lack of funds and mass support limited its impact.
This was partly because they were spread out across the country on reservations. The allotment policy then split tribes into smaller family groups.
It was also because they had no agreed aims.
What is the Meriam report 1928?
A group of reformers wanted to preserve Indian culture.
The report condemned the allotment policy and outlined the terrible conditions in which the Native Americans lived.
This encouraged change, leading to the Rhoads reforms and the New Deal reforms.
What are the Rhoads reforms?
1929, these closed off-reservation boarding schools.
They were replaced by better schools on the reservations.
There were also to be improvements in medical facilities.
Why was there a move towards unity?
From the result of pressure from white Americans such as John Collier.
After WW2 and the establishment of the NCAI, tribes joined together to improve their position and rights.
This may have been encouraged by WW2, where Native Americans fought and experienced both racism and discrimination.
This encouraged them to join campaigns and pressure groups to end this.
What did the NCAI do?
They exerted pressure on the government, who established the Indian Claims Commission.
This appeared to be how their lands would be returned, but compensation rather than land was usually the outcome.
What is the NIYC?
The policy of termination and the growing civil rights group led to the formation of more pressure groups, including the Native Indian Youth Council, 1961.
This showed a change in attitudes and willingness to protest.
In 1964 hundreds of them gathered in Washington as part of Johnson’s war on poverty.
What is AIM?
Despite NIYC’s success in the courts, many of the young believed progress was too slow.
Inspired by Black Power, they were more militant and established the American Indian movement 1968, and red power.
Many of the tactics and mass movement and pride was inspired by Malcolm X.
What did AIM do?
They aimed to tackle discrimination.
They established a group to patrol the streets and monitor police activities, which resulted in a decline in the number of arrests and imprisonment of young Native Americans.
What are some Native American actions 1968-75?
A fish-in was staged in Washington State when the State Supreme Court failed to uphold the rights to fish in the Columbia river.
Publication of significant works of literature, which made many Americans aware of their history and culture and their problems.
Vine Deloria ‘Custer died for your sins’ and Dee Browns ‘Bury my heart at wounded knee’.
What is the Siege of Alcatraz 1969?
The island had previously belonged to the Ohlone Indians.
The jail now stood empty so a group of Native Americans from a range of tribes occupied it and demanded its return.
Richard Oakes, Mohawk tribe, led it, and they offered $24 in beads and cloth, the original price paid to them.
The refusal led to the numbers up to 80.
What are the achievements of the siege?
The worldwide media coverage made many aware of the conditions, forcing the government to reconsider its policies.
It encouraged many Native Americans to be involved, with 10,000 visiting the island.
It brought them together and united them.
There was an increased awareness of the need for solidarity if they were to achieve national sovereignty.
What is the positive impact of the Siege of Alcatraz?
It encouraged further militant and sometimes violent action.
This gained AIM national attention and publicity.
This was very important as Native Americans were unable to achieve this through the vote, as they were only 1% of the electorate.
What is the limited impact of the siege of alcatraz?
It did bring publicity, but is argued that the struggle, as ended by milita and police, was counterproductive and went against Indian beliefs.
The violence also spilt the movement, further limiting its impact.
What is the occupation of Mount Rushmore?
1971, at Black Hills Dakota.
This was the burial ground of the Sioux and protestors camped there.
They were evicted but continued to claim the hills and establish more camps.
There is still dispute over ownership.
