Federal Government Acts (Native Americans, African Americans, Women, Trade Unions)
Reservation System
The government took Native land, moving them onto reservations. 133,417 Natives were on reservations across 20 states, this occupied 78,500,000 acres of land.
Fort Laramie Treaty
1851, Established territorial boundaries and sought to ensure peace among the tribes and settlers. This impacted the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapho tribes.
Medicing Lodge Treaty
1867, Tribes were to move to reservations to end conflict on the southern plain. This impacted the Kiowa, Comanche, Apache, Cheyenne and Arapho tribes.
Fort Laramie Treaty II
1868, Established the great Sioux nation, the US swore not to kill the buffalo.
Boarding Schools
Native American children focibly took into boarding school where they were prohibited from speaking their languages or practicing their cultures. They were taught farming and other western skills.
Battle of Little Big Horn
1876, Sioux and Cheyenne Natives left their reservations, LT. George Custer and the 9th Cavalry (approx. 200 men) sent to take them back. The Natives defeated most of the Cavalry including Custer.
The war of Nez Perce
1877, A war over broken treaties and stolen land, the Natives lost.
General Allotment Act (Dawes Act)
1887, Each MALE head of family was given 160 acres of farming land or 320 acres of grazing land. After 25 years they would have full ownership.
Wounded Knee Massacre
1890, The slaughter of approximately 300 natives, military settlers fuelled by manifest destiny ideology and intolerance of the Native ghost dance.
Dance Order
1921, Banned all indigenous ceremonies and dances.
Indian Citizenship Act
1924, All non-citizens born within the US territory, and who were Indians, were granted full citizenship.
Meriam Report
1928, Critically assessed the dire conditions faced by Natives due to federal policies and recommended significatn reforms to improve the conditions.
Indian Reorganisation Act (Wheeler-Howard Act)
1934, Designed to protect Native lands, safeguard tribal sovereignty and empower tribes with self-rule.
Indian Welfare Act (Thomas-Rogers)
1936, Extends the Wheeler-Howard act within the boundaries of Oklahoma.
Indian Lands Mining Act
1938, Gives the secretary of the interior board powers over mineral development on Indian lands.
Termination
1953, Ended the recognition of tribes and treaties.
Public Law 280
1953, Government to own all reservation lands to use for industry or japanese internment camps.
House Concurrent 108
1953, End tribal recognition, ends reservations, ends all funding for NA.
Indian Relocation Act
1953, Natives moved from reservations to Ghettos.
Forgotten Americans Speech
1969, Nixons plans to get rid of termination policy, increase the relationship between federal government and Natives.
Indian Education Act
1972, Increased funding for schools, recognising the unique educational needs of Natives. This created the national advisory board on education.
Indian Self-Determination Act
1975, Set out a process by which tribes would take responsibility for their own education and health.
Indian Education Assistance Act
1975, Allowed Natives to have much greater involvment in their children’s educational progress.
Native American Religious Freedom Act
1978, Gave Natives the right to follow their traditional religion.
Indian Child Welfare Act
1978, Attempted to regulate the forced removal of Native children.
Indian Gambling Regulatory Act
1988, Established a framework for regulating gaming activities on Native tribal lands.
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
1996, Mandated the repatriation of Native cultural items, including remains.
Emancipation Proclomation
1865, All slaves free of their masters.
13th Amendment
1865, All slaves were formally freed.
Military Reconstruction Act
1867, South split into 5 military districts, the states had to draft a new constitution including racial provisions, whence the union deemed these acceptable they were allowed to rule themselves.
14th Amendment
1868, All freed slaves are now citizens of the US.
15th Amendment
1870, All African American men were now eligible to vote.
Black Codes
1870s, A set of southern laws that restricted the freedom of AA. E.g. Unemployed African Americans sent to labour camps, African American required passes to travel, introduced literacy tests, and ban on inter-racial marriage.
Presidential Compromise
1877, Ruthord B Hayes granted presidency in exchange for federal troops to withdraw from the south.
Jim Crow Laws
1880s, A series of laws which enforced racial segregation.
Grandfather Clause
A man was only eligible to vote if his grandfather was.
Agricultural Adjustment Act
1933, Boost agricultural prices by paying farmers to reduce their productions. Ended sharecropping.
National Industrial Recovery Act
1933, Restricts output from industry and warehouses. AA lost their jobs, approximately 500,000 AA lost their jobs in southern states.
Wagner Act
1935, Allowed for private unions, they could choose who joined. AFL was the biggest union, it had no African Americans.
Fair Labour Standards Act
1938, Introduction of the minimum wage.
Excessive Profits Tax System
1940s, Companies had to pay 3x the federal tax.
Civil Rights Act 1957
Focused on protecting voting rights.
Established a civil rights division within the department of justice.
Created the US commission on Civil Rights.
Civil Rights Act 1960
Strengthened voting rights protections
Required preservation of voting records
Introduced federal voting referees
Philadelphia Plan
1960s, Federal contractors had to set goals and timtables for hiring minority workers (1% - 12%).
Bussing of School Children Act
1960s, African American Students were transported to white neighbourhoods for schooling, and vice versa.
Civil Rights Act 1964
Comprehensive legislation that prohibited discrimination in public accomodations, federally funded programs and employment.
Voting Rights Act
1965, prohibited any voter discrimination and banned voter intimidation.
Fair Housing Act
1968, Banned all racial discrimination in the sale and purchasing of housing.
Equal Opportunities Act
1972, Banned employment discrimination based on race, sex, colour, religion or national origin.
Civil Rights Restoration Act
1988, All areas of the civil rights legislation had to be compiled before any federal funding was given.
Which States allowed Women to vote first and when?
1917 - Illinois and New York
1918 - South Dakota, Michigan, and Omaha.
What was the 18th Amendment?
1919 - The ban on alcohol (Prohibition)
What was the 18th Amendment?
1920 - Women’s right to vote.
Shepard Towner Act
1921, Women could receive financial aid for maternity.
Social Security Act
1935, Helped alleviate family stress by introducing welfare benefits for poor families.
Aid to Dependent Children Act
1935, Helped white women with young children who were unable to work because of this.
Lantham Act
1945 - Gave a grant for children. (repealed in 1946)
GI Bill of Rights
1944 - Funded ex servicemen into higher education.
Equal Pay Act
1963 - aimed to abolish the gender pay gap.
Presidents report on American Women
1963 - shown the poor treatment that women recieved.