US Civil Rights - Native Americans - Federal gov. help/hinder

Meriam Report

• Claimed NAs were the poorest group in American society and that the US gov. should make the economic and social advancement of NAs a priotity
• In response, the federal government closed down boarding schools and increased federal funding to help combat Indian poverty

HOWEVER: The Wall Street Crash minimised further reform, and the report did not condemn the policy of Americanisation - only the allotment policy

Indian Reorganisation Act (Indian New Deal) 1934

• Recognition of Indian separate identify and the right to self government under the BIA; allotment ended, some land restored
• Training was provided for NAs to help improve farming and better medical facilities were provided - by 1938, the NA population was increasing faster than nationally
• Marked a change in attitude towards Native American culture, as well as hepling protect NA land by the abandoning of allotments

Allotment under the Dawes Act (1887)

• Supposedly to protect Indian property rights, especially during the land rushes of the 1800s - limited in practice
• Many view the breaking up of reservation land as an 'underhand' method by the government of taking land from NAs
  • Indian land in 1887 = 138 million acres -  reduced to 47 million acres in 1934 
• Land was often unsuitable for farming and the techniques require for self-sufficient farming were very different to the tribal way of life - many NAs struggled to adapt
• Many NAs did not appreciate the vote - viewed democracy as a 'white man's concept' and those NAs who did wish to vote were often prevented from doing so by the states
• NAs made up very small % of the electorate - of little interest to politicians

Indian Reorganisation Act (Indian New Deal) 1934

• Continued the policy of assimilation - not what NAs wanted, but 
• Collier did not consult with NAs - many wanted to 'go along with' the allotment policy - had been underway for 40 years + many  had begun to assimilate - did not want self determination
• Suggests even when the federal gov. tried to improve conditions for NAs, their paternlistic attitude and their commitment to assimilation meant they did not act in the NAs best interests

Termination

• NAs were no longer wards of the nation, and the recognition of tribes and limited treaty rights some tribes were able to maintain was ended
• Government attempted to lure Native Americans away from the reservations and into the cities, but slum ghetto housing meant NAs were rarely better off
• Although the poor housing conditions meant that NAs were often grouped together, therefore contributing to their resistance of assimilation, the lasting negative consequences of termination can be seen as by 1990, 2/3 of NAs were still living in urban areas
• Many who were born in cities only knew what had been passed down to them and the percentage of NAs speaking their tribal language declined

HELP

• Oneida v Oneida and Madison Counties (1974) - the Oneida tribe successfully sued for the return of lands, encouraging further action
• Fisher v Montana (1976) - gave tribal courts the right to decide on adoption and therefore recognised tribal courts
• Sioux v US (1980) - the Sioux tribe won compensation for the loss of their lands, but rejected it, arguing instead for the return of their lands
• Seminole Tribe v Butterworth (1982) - the Seminole were allowed to establish gambling premises on their lands even though it went against state law
• Charrier v Bell (1986) - remains dug up from burial grounds were determined to belong to the NAs - helped protect NA burial grounds and promoted respect for their culture

HINDER

• Lone Wolf v Hitchcock (1903) - upheld the right of Congress to revoke all treaties made with NAs and therefore take away their land
  • NAs lost their identity ad pride, and they now often depended on the government for food
  • The ruling was upheld with a decision in 1913, which led to the Pueblo Indians losing land in 1921

Nixon (1969 - 1974)

• Criticised previous policy and recognised that Indian leadership was essential to ensuing the success of fedearal government assistance
• Heavily contrasts with previous policies - only had whites in leadership roles
• Replaced the policy of termination with one of affermative action
• Demonstrated his commotment to NA involvement in their own affairs by making Louis Bruce Jr (Sioux heritage) Commissioner for Indian Affairs in 1969
• NAs were given preference in emplotment opportunities in the BIA to ensure greater Indian leadership
• Although Nixon was unable to deal with the issue ot tribal lands before his resignation, he did make some significant progress

Ford (1974 - 1977)

• Indian Self Determination and Educational Assistance Act (1975)

Carter (1977 - 1981)

• NA Religious Freedom Act  (1978) and the Indian Child Welfare Act (1978)