American Indian Federal Policy An Introduction

American Indian Government Policies Over the years, the United States government has had different ways of dealing with American Indians. The government has established official “policies” (laws, rules) to carry out what it thinks is best for Indian people & tribes.

There are eight (8) policies we will begin an in-dept study of. They are as follows:

1. Civilization (Federalist period: Washington & Jefferson) Make the Indian white, civilized, and Christian Create missions (church), make treaties, and change the culture of the Native American Make treaties as a way to gain land

2. Removal (1830s-1860s; Andrew Jackson, Indian Removal Act of 1830) Move Indians east of the Mississippi River to Indian Territory (current day Oklahoma) This will make room for white settlement in the east (Manifest Destiny) Included the Trail of Tears, which was the Cherokee removal

3. Reservations (1860s-1890s) Put Indians on a plot of communal land (land held in common), owned by the government, to keep the Indians contained Also, send Indian children to boarding schools to teach them a trade Resentment from this policy led to the Indian Wars

4. Allotment (1887-1928; Dawes Severalty Act) While on reservations, conserve land for white settlement by measuring off individual plots of land for individual families Indian men were forced to farm for their individual family This stripped them of their “tribal” way of life

5. “New Deal” Indian (1930s-1940s; Indian Reorganization Act) Restore tribal authority to tribes by reversing the allotment Tribes establish tribal governments and are encouraged to manage their affairs Lost momentum due to WWII

6. Relocation (1920s-1950s) Offer job training programs and jobs in large cities to get Indian off of reservation and away from tribal communities The modern day Pow Wows were created during this period

7. Termination (1950s-1970s) The government cut off all relations and obligations with Indian tribes * As a result of this, Native Americans fought to regain their rights during the Civil Rights movement

8. Self-Determination (1974-Present) The government allows tribes the freedom and authority to run their nations the way they please This policy recognizes the sovereignty of tribes