Political

Question 1

Dawes Act

Answer 1

1887

Divided the reservations up into plots or allotments which were given to the NA. As a result, they now owned the land and had full rights of citizenship.

• Undermined their position as it ignored the belief that land belonged to all creatures and couldn’t be owned by individuals.
• Worsened the position and status of many NA women. Especially in tribes that were matriarchal (eg Iroquois and Cherokee) where the property belonged to women but under the Dawes Act was given to men.

1898 curtis included 5 civilised tribes not inc in Dawes

Question 2

WW1

Answer 2

Around 100,000 NA men fought in WW1 and gained respect for their bravery

Some NA families were given assistance by the govt to move from reservation land and work in industry and some women worked in factories. Some embraced assimilation

Choctaw code talkers WW1: In WW1, 19 Indians, using a tribal dialect, disguised communications to confound German spies and eavesdroppers

Question 3

Indian Citizenship Act

Answer 3

1924

Reward for ww1 and part of assimilation drive

Not a result of any NA campaign

Didn’t make much difference: 2/3 already had right to vote bc of inter-marriage and Dawes act

Citizenship was conferred on them whether they wanted it or not.

Those Indians seeking to maintain their traditional rights, US citizenship wasn’t desirable.

Citizen rights didn’t necessarily mean the right to vote, certainly in state elections
Many states resisted to the extension of the franchise to NAs and were able to use legal arguments and the impositions of voting qualifications to exclude them

Question 4

Indian reorganisation act (wheeler-howard)

Answer 4

1934

• The extension of political rights to women

Question 5

Harrison v Laveen

Answer 5

1948

Two NAs in this test case claimed that their rights had been violated when they weren’t allowed to register their vote.

Yet although the court decided in their favour, other Western states continued to restrict their voting rights.

Question 6

Indian Self-determination act

Answer 6

1975

tribes could take their own responsibility for education, health and social services

Question 7

United states v Sioux

Answer 7

1980

Wanted return of land

gave $106mill dollars dollars- showed federal acceptance that it was wrong to take land in first place

TP bc led to more tribes pursuing compensation

not that signifcant bc wanted retun of land but didnt get it

Question 8

NA actions did help

Answer 8

National Indian Youth Council (1961) — aim of protection NA fishing rights — took on lawsuits to protect treaty rights and voting rights.
NCAI — lawsuits and put pressure on SC to make changes.
1974 — Oneida v. Oneida and Madison Counties — Oneida tribe sued for return of their lands

NARF put pressure on sc

1. Reinstating tribes that had been terminated.
2. Restoring tribal sovereignty.
3. Restoring lost tribal lands.
4. Restoring hunting and fishing rights.
5. Having the right to vote.
6. Having the right to worship freely.
7. Performing a proper burial of ancestral remains.