History timelines for NA Flashcards
(25 cards)
Before Dawes Act - Political
Treaties made with NA tribes 1851-71 repudiated & NAs not treated as citizens with rights
From Dawes Act 1887 to Indian Citizenship Act 1924 - Political
Allotment policy aimed to turn NAs into citizens of states where they lived; they weren’t consulted about changes No longer officially seen as enemies to be defeated
From Indian Citizenship Act 1924 to Indian Reorganisation Act 1934 - Political
Turned NAs into citizens with (in theory) full civil rights including right to vote, though in practice states used poll tax & literacy tests to stop them 2/3 of NAs could theoretically now vote but most already could through Dawes Act or service in WW1 In later years NAs could sue for these rights in courts through NCAI & NARF
Indian Reorganisation Act 1934 - Political
Tribal self govt. restored but limited by congressional amendments NAs not consulted & only 39% voted for it
After the Indian Reorganisation Act - Political
“Indian New Deal” ended during WW2 & not until LBJ & Nixon from 1968 onwards was fed gov policy again as supportive Indian Civil Rights Act 1968 extended CR to NAs living in tribes but fed gov support for NAs declined after mid 70s Supreme Court made series of decisions favourable to NAs 1974-86
Before Dawes Act - Economic
Buffalo virtually exterminated by 1885 & most NA land taken, destroying their traditional lifestyle NAs put on reservations but less aid provided than promised
From Dawes Act 1887 to Indian Citizenship Act 1924 - Economic
Aimed to turn NAs into independent farmers by giving them 160 acres each (or 320 if pasture) with “surplus” land sold to whites so could be seen as excuse for land grab NAs generally failed as farmers (except Navajo), fell into debt & had to sell land so 2/3 of what little land they had lost
From Indian Citizenship Act 1924 to Indian Reorganisation Act 1934 - Economic
Did nothing to help NAs to escape from poverty; in fact Meriam Report 1928 admitted NAs most impoverished ethnic group in USA No land restored until 1934
Indian Reorganisation Act 1934 - Economic
Allotment abandoned & theoretically land seizures would end (but in fact continued if land had valuable oil or timber) & land restoration started but limited by congressional amendments & lack of funds Some govt. support for NA handicrafts By 1938 NA population rising faster than US average
After the Indian Reorganisation Act - Economic
Further land seizures & withdrawal of economic support during WW2 Indian Claims Commission 1946-78 offered only financial compensation not land return; this & Termination policy 1953-68 aimed to free federal govt. from having to support NAs economically
Before Dawes Act - Social
Some food & education provided but limited & funds often stolen by corrupt white officials Indian Boarding Schools from 1879 onwards taught basic literacy, numeracy & agricultural skills Aimed to “kill the Indian, save the man”
From Dawes Act 1887 to Indian Citizenship Act 1924 - Social
Dawes Act didn’t cover education but Indian Boarding Schools extended
From Indian Citizenship Act 1924 to Indian Reorganisation Act 1934 - Social
Meriam Report 1928 led to improvements in education & health with many Indian Boarding Schools being closed down & NAs allowed to attend white schools
Indian Reorganisation Act 1934 - Social
Closure of Indian Boarding Schools closed, enabling NAs to attend white schools & a few went to uni & got jobs in BIA New Deal agencies funded improvements in health & education services on reservations but this ceased after 1941
After the Indian Reorganisation Act - Social
Health & education on reservations gradually improved including Indian Education Act 1972 but NAs still most disadvantaged ethnic group in USA WW2 & Termination led to increased urbanisation: % of NAs living in cities rose 8-30% 1940-60 but they were confined to poor areas & many returned to reservations in old age By end of 1960s for first time significant no. of NAs had acquired uni education
Before Dawes Act - Cultural
Economic basis of traditional culture destroyed but reservation system preserved it to some extent Traditional dances banned 1883
From Dawes Act 1887 to Indian Citizenship Act 1924 - Cultural
Aim of Act was to assimilate NAs into white society by destroying their traditional culture & make them think & act as whites did
From Indian Citizenship Act 1924 to Indian Reorganisation Act 1934 - Cultural
Aim of Act was to assimilate NAs into white society by destroying their traditional culture & make them think & act as whites did, individually rather than tribally
Indian Reorganisation Act 1934 - Cultural
For first time NA culture officially respected Bans on traditional dances & religious practices repealed But Termination after WW2 marked return to forcible assimilation
After the Indian Reorganisation Act - Cultural
Urbanisation 1940-60 weakened traditional culture but it survived on reservations & revived from 1960s onwards with rise of “Red Power” & books like “I lost my heart at Wounded Knee” 1970 Supreme Court decision 1986 (Charrier v Bell) enforced respect for NA burial grounds Uni education enabled young activists to overcome tribal divisions & engage in direct action
Before Dawes Act - Activism
NAs tried to resist & won some victories like Little Bighorn 1876 but by 1887 resistance had virtually ceased
Ghost dances
From Dawes Act 1887 to Indian Citizenship Act 1924 - Activism
Ghost Dances continued Attempts to flee from reservations provoked massacres like Wounded Knee 1890, after which resistance ceased SAI set up 1911 but broke up in 1920s b/c of tribal divisions Pueblo tribe lost land 1921 & had dances banned
From Indian Citizenship Act 1924 to Indian Reorganisation Act 1934 - Activism
No effective NA activism at this stage
Indian Reorganisation Act 1934 - Activism
Even Collier didn’t consult NAs; they continued to be passive victims of white govt. policy
