Turning Point Questions

Question 1

1865-1886 Politically (Early) (3)

Answer 1

• Reservation Policy did not fully assimilate Native Americans as it had hoped (NOT FARMERS)
• Native Americans had no political significance in US culture - separate group to be conquered
• Autonomy continued after Red Cloud’s War 1866 –> Fort Laramie Treaty

Question 2

1865-1886 Land/Economically (Early) (4)

Answer 2

• Policy of reservations only decreased land size
• 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn - Native Americans land use the same as before, same monoculture economy
• Native Americans did not use capitalism - no concept of money
• Land ownership non-existent, spiritual lands

Question 3

Dawes Act 1887 - Political Significance (4)

Answer 3

• Self Determination = GONE, given Citizenship
• Established NA’s as tax-paying citizens, no longer a separate group after 25 years
• Extended by Indian Citizenship Act (only 1% of pop, less significant)
• Still significant at end of period (Still had citizenship)

Question 4

Dawes Act 1887 - Land/Economic Significance (3)

Answer 4

• Introduced allotments and land ownership to Native Americans
• Introduction of Capitalism into the allotments
• After this, they never regained their lost land (Indian Claims Commission failed)

Question 5

1865-1886 Culturally (Early) (3)

Answer 5

• Increasing forced assimilation for Native Americans, e.g. Dawes Act undermined matriarchal society (160 acres male only)
• Attempts to de-tribalize and assimilate into ‘white America’, e.g. Reservations Policy banned polygamy.
• Assimilation was prevalent throughout the early period.

Question 6

1886-1940 Politically (Mid) (3)

Answer 6

• Dawes Act was extended by Indian Citizenship Act of 1924
• Indian Reorganization Act 1934 brought back Tribal Council Power (Autonomy)
• Loss of autonomy from Dawes not brought back, Native Americans forced to assimilate to be heard by the US: NCAI 1944 were educated, assimilation in order to be heard.

Question 7

1886-1940 Land/Economically (Mid) (4)

Answer 7

• Land lost after the Dawes Act was never reclaimed and only minor compensation
• NCAI Action –> Indian Claims Commission 1946 = Failed, little land returned
• Five Civilised Tribes 1903 Muskogee Convention FAILED –> Oklahoma established 1907.
• Native Americans still capitalist, no/little land returns.

Question 8

1886-1940 Culturally (Mid) (3)

Answer 8

• Assimilation continued: Lone Wolf vs. Hitchcock 1903 ‘ignorant and dependent’
• Native American culture is still not respected
• Media portrayed Native Americans as savages until more awareness in the late 1960s ‘Wild West shows’.

Question 9

1940-1992 Politically (Late) (3)

Answer 9

• Still no autonomy for Native Americans, have to be assimilated
• NCAI pursued voting rights with lawsuits -> more into US political system
• Native Americans less than 1% of population, no political significance

Question 10

1940-1992 Land/Economically (Late) (3)

Answer 10

• Native Americans are still the poorest ethnic group in 1992 - Their position did not improve economically after Dawes.
• No improvement in the land after Dawes - 2/3 NA in urban areas
• Reagan’s’ native capitalism’, the continuation of Dawes.

Question 11

1940-1992 Culturally (Late) (5)

Answer 11

• Termination Policy 1953 - Continued Assimilation
• Nixon ends the Termination Policy in 1969
• American Indian Policy Review 1975 - 5/11 Commissioners NA’s
• Religious Freedom Act 1978
• After the 1970s, no more forced assimilation for Native Americans - respect for their culture!

Question 12

Presidents of the 1970s - Cultural Significance (4)

Answer 12

• Finally, respect for their culture!
• Juxtaposed to the paternalistic/assimilation-dominated direction of the last 105 years.
• Nixon giving Native Americans - 1972 Indian Education Act - RENEWAL OF CULTURE
• Supreme Court upheld Nixon’s progress in 1974.

Question 13

Why is the Reservation Policy not most significant?

Answer 13

Political - Autonomy continued afterwards: Red Cloud’s War 1866
Land/Economically - Still no land ownership or capitalism: 1886 Bighorn
Cultural - Only assimilation, seen until 1970s: ‘ignorant and dependant race’

Question 14

Why is the Dawes Act not the most significant?

Answer 14

Political: it is lol
Land/Economically: it is lol
Culturally: Was just continued assimilation - Reservation Policy banned polygamy, continued until end of Termination 1969.

Question 15

Why is the Indian Citizenship Act 1924 not the most significant?

Answer 15

Political: Just an extension of the Dawes Act, NA already had citizenship. Continued assimilation, no self-determination.
Land/Economically: Did not change in terms of land, nothing gained/lost.
Culturally: Did not change in terms of culture, nothing gained/lost.

Question 16

Why is the Indian Reorganisation Act 1934 not the most significant?

Answer 16

Politically: Many Native Americans were already assimilated from Dawes.
Land/Economically: Not much land return, only minor compensation.
Culturally: Collier was paternalistic, did not ask NA what they wanted.

Question 17

Why is the Termination Policy 1953-69 not the most significant?

Answer 17

Political: Continued assimilation into US political system, autonomy already destroyed.
Land/Economically: Did not change in terms of land, nothing gained/lost.
Culturally: Was just continued assimilation of NA culture, Nixon ended in 1969.

Question 18

Why is Alcatraz 1969-1971 not the most significant?

Answer 18

Political: Did not have much political significance, NA’s are still in US political system.
Land/Economically: Did not reclaim any land or money.
Culturally: Was reliant on the media for impact, culture wasn’t respected until NIXON LAW

Question 19

Why are the Presidents of the 1970s, not the most significant?

Answer 19

Political: Did not improve NA political rights or autonomy
Land/Economics: Only awarded minor compensation, no land
Cultural: it is lol