American Policies Towards Native

Americans

1787 The Northwest Ordinance?

The ordinance stated that Indians were to be treated with the "utmost good faith" and specified that "their lands and property shall never be taken away from them without their consent."

What was William Henry Harrison’s relationship to the Indians and what were the effects (specifically 1811-1812)?

Governor of Indiana William Henry Harrison threatened, bribed and purposely intoxicated Indians.

Tecumseh began to organize an Indian Confederation.

In 1811 and 1812 Harrison fought and defeated Tecumseh at the battle of Tippecanoe.

What happened with Florida in 1819, and what did this mean for Native Americans? How does Andrew Jackson tie into all of this?

1819: the purchase of Florida

For years Indians had fled south to Florida to escape American authorities. There, the Spanish were powerless to control the Indians where a new tribe was formed called the Seminoles.

In 1818 Andrew Jackson led a raid on Florida and crushed the Seminoles. Fearing the loss of their territory without compensation the Spanish sold Florida to the United States and Seminoles were moved to a reservation

What was the result of Supreme Court case Cherokee Nation vs. Georgia (1830)? Why was this case brought to trial? What was Andrew Jackson’s famous quote in response to this trial? Who was Chief Justice at this point in time?

Problem: the state of Georgia deprived the Cherokees rights within its boundaries (white settlers that had moved in and the State of Georgia claimed jurisdiction over the Cherokee)

The Cherokee sued, claiming they were independent from Georgia.

S.C. Chief Justice: John Marshall

Outcome: the Supreme Court did not hear the case on its merit. It ruled that it had no original jurisdiction in the matter, as the Cherokee were a dependent nation, with a relationship to the United States like that of a ward to its guardian.

Andrew Jackson:"John Marshall has made his decision. Now let him enforce it." Instead the federal government removed the Indians to Oklahoma.

What did the Indian Removal Act (1830) do? Explain the “Trail of Tears”?

This act authorized the President to negotiate treaties and remove the remaining Eastern Indians to lands west of the Mississippi

Trail of Tears: relocation of Native Americans from their homelands to “Indian Territory” (basically modern-day Oklahoma). By the late 1840's almost all native Americans had been moved to lands west of the Mississippi.

What was President Rutherford B. Hayes’s famous quote in 1877 (in a message to Congress)?

"Many, if not most of our Indian wars, have had their origin in broken promises and acts of injustice on our part."

Who was Helen Hunt Jackson? How does she tie into Native Americans’ rights?

1881: A Century of Dishonor

Her book helped awaken white Americans to their shameful treatment of the Indians

What were the Plains Indians Wars (1860 - 1890’s)? Name two major battles.

During this period, Americans and plains Indians clashed as Americans attempted to force Indians onto reservations.

Battle of Little Bighorn: Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer and his regiment of 250 were all killed by approximately 4500 Sioux and Cheyenne warriors

Battle at Wounded Knee: thousands of Cheyenne men, women, and children were slaughtered by the American Calvary. Wounded Knee represented the end of any real armed resistance on the part of the Native American.

What were the three things the The Dawes Act (1887) provided?

1. Each Indian family head be allotted a 160 acre farm out of reservation land

2. Each new land owner who abandoned tribal practices and adopted the "habits of civilized life" would be granted American citizenship

3. "Surplus" reservation lands would be made available to sell to white settlers

What did the Snyder Indian Citizenship Act (1924) do?

Grant American citizenship to all Indians born in the United States

Name three things the Wheeler-Howard Indian Reorganization Act (1934) did?

1. Ended land allotments and returned unsold lands to the Indians.

2. Authorized tribes to form corporations and launch businesses.

3. Provided for elected tribal councils with significant powers.

What did the Termination Policy (1953) do?

Ended the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and all of the programs

Divided tribal property among the tribes members, so taxed taxation

Curtailed tribal self government and relocated many Indians to the cities A