Native American History: Legislation

In order of the year they were passed, 1 being the earliest.

Authorized the President to break up reservation land, which was held in common by the members of a tribe, into small allotments to be parceled out to individuals

Dawes Act (a.k.a. General Allotment Act) - 1887

Authorized the secretary of the interior to decide whether an Indian person was “competent” to manage his or her lands

Burke Act - 1906

Granted a new degree of autonomy to Native Americans in the United States, giving them greater control over their lands and allowing them to form legally recognized tribal governments

Indian Reorganization Act (a.k.a. Wheeler-Howard Act) - 1934

Mandated that Native tribes be disbanded and their land sold

Termination Policy - ~1953

Dictates that Indian tribal governments cannot pass or enforce laws that violate certain individual rights

The Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 (ICRA)

Allowed for Indian tribes to have greater autonomy and to have the opportunity to assume the responsibility for programs and services administered to them on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior through contractual agreements

Indian Self-Determination Act - 1975

Governs the removal and out-of-home placement of American Indian and Alaska Native children and youth

Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) - 1978