OCR A-Level History - Civil Rights in the USA - Native Americans

When and what were the different policies on Native Americans?

- Reservation - 1871-1887

- Allotment - 1887-1934

- Termination - 1953-1969

NA Position in 1865

What was the position of NA in 1865?

- Many NA had been forced out of their tribal lands following Westward Expansion.

- The Homestead Act also gave away 160 acres of land to farmers, further limiting their land.

- They were unable to follow the buffalo and so couldn't partake in their traditional lifestyle.

NA Position in 1865

What are examples of treaties with NA tribes?

- Medicine Lodge Treaty of 1867.

- Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868.

NA Position in 1865

What are the Plains Wars?

- 1850s - 1870s.

- Clashes between Native tribes and the US government.

Plains Wars 1854 - 1877

When and what was the Sand Creek Massacre?

- 1864.

- Attack by US cavalry on an undefended Cheyenne camp.

- Resulted in the deaths of many elderly men, women, and children.

Plains Wars 1854 - 1877

When and what was the Battle of Little Bighorn?

- 1876.

- General Custer attacked a group of NAs who had left their reservations and refused to return.

- The worst US army defeat during the Plains Wars, almost 300 US soldiers killed.

Impact of the Dawes Act

When and what was the Dawes Severalty Act?

- 1887.

- Divided reservations into plots which were given to individual Native Americans.

- Forced them to "live like an American".

Impact of the Dawes Act

What effect did the Dawes Act have on NA?

- Gave land ownership, undermining their belief that land belonged to all creatures.

- Those who sold the land were unable to manage the money, and slipped further into poverty.

- Undermined matriarchal tribal structures, for example the Cherokee tribe.

NA from 1887 - 1924

When and what was the Massacre at Wounded Knee?

- 1890.

- Killing of over 100 Native American men, women and children by the US cavalry.

Native American pressure groups

When was the Society of American Indians founded and what were they?

- 1911.

- First pressure group, but lacked funds and influence.

Acquisition of US citizenship

When and what was the Indian Citizenship Act?

- 1924.

- Gave NA citizenship.

Acquisition of US citizenship

When and what were the Rhoads reforms?

- 1929.

- Closed off-reservation boarding schools for NA's and replaced them with better schools on reservations.

New Deal

When and what was the Indian Reorganisation (Wheeler-Howard) Act?

- 1934.

- Gave NA's right to practice religion, undertake traditional ceremonies, and extended political rights to women.

- Ended allotment policy.

New Deal

How did the New Deal help NA's?

- Agencies built schools and hospitals.

- Women were encouraged to take on a greater economic role and enter higher education.

Native American pressure groups

When was the National Congress of American Indians founded and what were they?

- 1944.

- Example of an organisation which brought together multiple tribes to improve NA civil rights.

Native American pressure groups

When was the National Indian Youth Council established, and what did they do?

- 1961.

- Fought for the political rights and social position of Native Americans.

- Took on lawsuits.

American Indian Movement of 60s and 70s

When was the American Indian Movement (AIM) founded and what was it?

- 1968.

- Followed inspiration of Black Power and aimed to create a mass movement and pride in their race and culture.

American Indian Movement of 60s and 70s

When and what was the Siege of Alcatraz?

- 1969.

- Led by Richard Oakes.

- Siege of island called Alcatraz which used to be a high-security prison.

- Gained widespread media coverage, 10,000 people visited during the siege.

American Indian Movement of 60s and 70s

When was the occupation of Wounded Knee?

- 1973.

- Lasted 71 days, leading to negotiated settlement.

- To draw attention to high unemployment amongst Native Americans and life expectancy of 46 years.

American Indian Movement of 60s and 70s

When and what was the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act?

- 1975.

- Gave tribes responsibility for their own education, health and social services.

American Indian Movement of 60s and 70s

What two acts happened in 1978 and what did they do?

- Native American Religious Freedom Act gave them their right to follow their religions and do their rituals.

- Indian Child Welfare Act regulated the forced removal of Native children from their families.

NA's and the Supreme Court

When and what was the Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock case?

- 1903.

- Gave the government the right to revoke all treaties made with Native Americans.

NA's and the Supreme Court

When and what was the Oneida v. Oneida and Madison Counties case?

- 1974.

- A case by the Oneida tribe to sue for the return of their lands, with the Supreme Court ruling in favour of them.

NA's and the Supreme Court

When and what was the United States v. Sioux Nation case?

- 1980.

- Case ruling the tribe entitled to compensation for the loss of their land in the Black Hills of Dakota.

- Awarded the Sioux $17.5 mil, plus 5% interest a year since 1877, another $106 mil.

NA's and the Supreme Court

When and what was the Charrier v. Bell case?

- 1986.

- Ruling remains dug from burial grounds in Louisiana belonged to NA's.

- Resulted in laws protecting NA's burial grounds.