progress and development of NA rights

Question 1

1865-1914 summary

4 points

Answer 1

aim = assimilation

1. Reservation policy
2. Education
3. Conversion to christianity
4. Dawes Act (NA into farmers)

Question 2

Reservation policy
2 points
(begins 1850s, treaties provide NA with land to occupy)

Answer 2

1. prevented NA moving freely (nomadic) 
allowed gov to enforce policies: 
forbid polygamy, 
forbid herbal remedies, 
abolish tribal laws, 
end communal living, 
end power of tribal chief, 
send children to off-reservation boarding schools (could not speak tribal language, renounce tribal beliefs. 

2. persevered some elements of NA lifestyle - still together as a community

Question 3

Dawes severalty Act 1887 
5 points 
(Divided reservations into allotments which were given to NA = landowners/citizens)

Answer 3

1. undermined belief that land was communal.
2. forced into farming.
3. many unable to farm land (generally unsuitable for crops) = sell it to white people add’s to NA decline
4. by 1914 land given to them by treaties taken away
   Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock 1903 upheld right of congress to revoke treaties
5. lost identity and pride - often dependent upon gov for food

Question 4

1914-1945 summary

3 points

Answer 4

1. NA granted citizenship
2. some improvement with New Deal
3. gains made not what NA wanted

Question 5

Indian citizenship Act 1924
4 points
(right to vote)

Answer 5

1. most did not want citizenship / right to vote
2. not intended to increase political involvement but to increase speed of assimilation
3. did not restore sovereignty (self governing)
4. attacks on culture
   1921 Dance Order bans traditional dances

Question 6

Meriam Report 1928
3 points
(by reformers, anthropologists, social scientists)

Answer 6

1. NA schools underfunded and understaffed
2. condemns allotment policy
3. NA most impoverished in country

Question 7

Roosevelts New Deal

Answer 7

1. Wheeler-Howard / Indian Reorganization Act 1934
   first act to preserve culture
   much owed to John Collier
2. right to - practice religion, undertake ceremonial dances and celebrations, ability to prevent sale of lands to individuals, extension of political rights to women
3. improved conditions on reservation - building of hospitals and schools (children learnt about own culture)
4. encouraged women to take up education and greater economic role
5. ends allotment policy but not assimilation
6. tribes not independent / self governing
7. funding intended to improve lives later used for WW2 instead