Ethnic

Indian Removal Act — purpose Forced migration of Native American tribes from the East Coast to west of the Mississippi River.

Indian Removal Act — president Andrew Jackson pushed for Native American removal, viewing Native Americans as an impediment to white dominance.

Indian Removal Act — justification White Americans claimed Native Americans were not using the land as God intended.

Indian Removal Act — promises The government provided annual funds, goods, and food and guaranteed that the new lands would not be taken from Native Americans.

Homestead Act of 1862 Opened up Native American land in Kansas and Nebraska to white homesteaders.

Homestead Act of 1862 — government promises Annual funds, goods, and food were provided, along with guarantees that the new lands would not be taken from Native Americans, according to the class notes.

Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 An agreement between the Sioux and the United States concerning the Great Sioux Reservation.

Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 — hunting and fishing The treaty restricted U.S. hunting and fishing on the Great Sioux Reservation, according to the class notes.

Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 — Black Hills The Black Hills were part of the land at the center of the conflict; the class notes mention 1.3 million acres.

Discovery of gold in the Black Hills Gold discovery increased pressure on Sioux land and contributed to conflict over the Black Hills.

Battle of Little Bighorn An important battle involving Colonel Custer and Crazy Horse in the conflict between the United States and the Sioux.

Black Hills — eventual outcome The Sioux reluctantly sold the Black Hills to the United States, according to the class notes.

Appropriations Act of 1871 Changed the legal status of Native American tribes so they were no longer treated as sovereign states but as domestic dependencies.

Appropriations Act of 1871 — consequence Native American tribes were confined to reservations under the policy described in the class notes.

Allotment Act (Dawes Act) of 1887 Bypassed tribal leaders and divided tribal lands into individual allotments to make tribal members individual landowners and independent homesteaders.

Dawes Act — why settlers supported allotment Settlers questioned government support for Native Americans and believed Native Americans had more land than they could occupy.

Dawes Act — land distribution The government surveyed reservation lands and allocated individual tracts to tribal members.

Dawes Act — surplus land Property left over after allotment was sold to the U.S. government, with funds placed in a trust to help assimilate Native Americans.

Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 Abandoned the federal effort to require Native Americans to adopt Anglo lifestyles and embraced a pluralistic policy.

Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 — leadership Provided for voting and the election of leaders.

Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 — economic organization Allowed Native Americans to organize themselves as corporate businesses.

Termination Act of 1953 Attempted to end Native American dependence on federal government welfare programs.

Termination Act of 1953 — federal services Sought to end federal services to Native lands, including medical services, water, sewer, electricity, schools, and road projects.

Termination Act of 1953 — relocation Encouraged Native Americans to leave reservations and migrate to cities.

Termination policy — barriers to assimilation Many Native Americans lacked the education or job skills needed to assimilate quickly into urban life.

Termination policy — urban consequences Relocated Native Americans faced problems including slum housing, depression, and health problems.

Termination policy — return migration By 1965, approximately one-half to one-third had returned to reservations, according to the class notes.

Restoration of reservation services Services were restored to reservations in 1975, according to the class notes.

Employment Assistance Program An initiative launched by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to relocate Native Americans to cities and provide educational and employment assistance.

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Created in 1824 under the Department of War, according to the class notes.

Native American brain drain The loss of educated or skilled people from reservations when those who assimilated and advanced their education remained in cities rather than returning.

Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 Allowed negotiated gambling agreements on reservations.

American Indian Religious Freedom Act Protected Native Americans' right to practice their traditional religions.

Peyote — 1994 According to the class notes, the right to use peyote in traditional religious practice was recognized as of 1994.