Native Americans Since Indian Wars (Theme #37)

NATIVE AMERICANS SINCE INDIAN WARS (THEME #38)

Helen Hunt Jackson – wrote “Century of Dishonor” in 1881 about the history of U.S. govt. breaking treaty obligations

Dawes Act (1887) – distributed reservation land to ind. Indians in order for them to become farmers and assimilate; instead of helping it led to speculators buying up 65% of the reservation land as Native Americans struggled with farming

Phoenix Indian School – set up to Americanize Native Americans (N.A.s)

Indian Citizenship Act (1924) – full citizenship rights granted, but no other help provided

American Indian Defense Assoc. – fought to preserve tribal life, against Dawes Act (20s)

Indian Reorganization Act (1934) – halted sale of tribal lands and tribes could reclaim unallocated lands; restored tribes’ status as legal entities

Termination bills (1950s & 1960s) – govt. withdrew financial support for reservations (termination of old treaties with hope of assimilation)

Voluntary Relocation Program – govt. helped N.A.s move to cities to find jobs

National Congress of American Indians (started in 1944) – fought to protect rights of tribes, and encourage appreciation of NA culture - fought later against termination bills

Declaration of Purposes (1961) – reps. of 67 tribes drew up this document to oppose termination treaties

Nat. Council on Indian Opportunity (1965) – set up by Pres. L.B. Johnson after protests at capitol for including Native American’s in LBJ’s war on poverty - LBJ also appointed 1st Native American leader of the Bureau of Indian Affairs - LBJ didn’t support termination policies and backed Indian self-determination

American Indian Movement (AIM) – activist movement founded in 1968 similar to what the Black Panthers did for African Americans (“Red Power”); led by Russell Means - led a sit-in protest for a week at the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs - established “survival schools” to teach Indian culture and history

Indian Self-Determination Act (1975) – gave tribal govts. control over social programs, law enforcement, and education on reservations - this and use of a 1961 law that allowed tribes to buy lands for commercial projects led to tribes starting business ventures that boosted employment and tribal profits including casinos in 1980s and 1990s - tribal membership rose as economic advantages to it seen

Article VI of Constitution – declares treaties approved by Congress are supreme law of the land; this was used by N.A. lawyers in 1980s and 1990s