Native American History Exam 2

Boarding Schools

"Kill the Indian in him, and save the man.", Boarding schools were introduced in the 19th century by Richard Pratt. Pratt established the first boarding school in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Boarding schools were created by the US government, forcing tens of thousands of Native American children to attend to try to assimilate them into mainstream American culture. The budget provided by the federal government to care for the native children was around 11 cents per child per day. Many native children at the boarding schools fells sick from the flu and often refused treatment, and eventually dying. Boarding schools were part of a long history of US attempts to kill, remove, or assimilate Native Americans. Boarding schools forbid Native children from practicing their native culture, language, or religion. They were given new American names, haircuts, and clothing. They were told to abandon their old ways of life because they were inferior to the white culture.

Cherokee Removal

-19th century -Wanted to kick Cherokees out of Georgia and move them west of the Mississippi -lottery off Cherokee lands some refused -Andrew Jackson becomes pres and makes cherokee removal top priority -US gov agrees to help move cherokees west if its done under 2 years -becomes known as the trail of tears -some traveled by boat others by foot, contaminated food and water, weather and conditions and illness killed thousands of cherokees For hundreds of years prior to the 19th century, Cherokee Indians had lived in the Southeast of the United States and in and along Georgia. US troops were ordered to remove these indians due to white americans who wanted their lands for farming and the then recent discovery of gold. In one attempt to try to drive out the Cherokee Indians and force them west of the Mississippi, the US government began raffling off cherokee lands to white americans who entered a lottery, forcing the Cherokees to move from their homes. Many Cherokees refused to leave and move to the West of the Mississippi so the US government made it their top priority after Andrew Jackson became president. The US government came to an agreement with the Cherokees that they would help bring them to the west of the Mississippi if every one complied and it was in the next two years. This is what we now know as the trail of tears. The journey west was deadly for most Cherokees and it depended on the mode of transportation. Many were shipped by boat and many were forced to travel on foot or in carriages. Food and water were contaminated and sickness from terrible conditions and weather led to the deaths of thousands of Cherokee Natives.

Pan-Indianism

-movement during the 1900s -broke geographical and social boundaries between tribes -pow-wows and grass dances -sense of unity among all native americans a philosophy and movement during the 1900s that promoted unity of Native Americans nationwide. The pan-indianism movement dissolved boundaries between tribes and celebrated the Native American culture as a whole, not on a tribe-by-tribe basis. The movement broke social and geographical boundaries between tribes all over the Americas. Groups of natives would travel hundreds of miles to participate in pow-wows and grass dances and celebrate the Native American culture in its entirety. Pow-wows and grass dances grew on a global scale and pan-indianism became a global movement.

Navajo Code Talkers

-played pivotal role in WW2 -before they were recognized they were put into boarding schools -after bombing of pearl harbor in 1941, many navajos enlisted in army -oral not written langauge -used code as secret because japanese wouldnt be able to crack it -despite the success, after the war no navajos received any recognition Navajo Code Talkers played a pivotal role in the United States success in World War 2. Before their value was recognized, US officials tried to dissolve Navajo culture by placing them in Boarding Schools to try to assimilate them into white culture. The bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 prompted many Navajo Code Talkers to enlist in the army to protect their country despite the attempts from the US to destroy the Navajo culture. The Navajo language is an oral language not a written one and the population that understands both English and Navajo is very small. The US used the Navajo language and the Navajo people that enlisted to send messages through their code to the US soldiers on the battle field in a way that the Japanese couldn't understand. Some American soldiers were hesitant about the usefulness of the code but became comfortable with it after the countless successful message transmissions that went undetectable by the Japanese. Despite how successful and critical the Navajo code was in the victory in World War 2, Navajo soldiers received no recognition after returning from war.

Curtis Act

1898, Curtis act states anything above ground belonged to Natives and anything below ground belongs to the US, caused a massive resistance among natives especially cherokees, helped weaken and dissolve Indian Territory tribal governments by abolishing tribal courts and subjecting all persons in the territory to federal law. This meant that there could be no enforcement of tribal laws and that any tribal legislation passed after 1898 had to be approved by the president of the United States. Towns could be surveyed and incorporated under the act, and residents were permitted to vote, enacted to help aid the assimilation of Native Americans during the allotment policy

Indian Reorganization Act of 1934

Also called the Wheeler-Howard Act, aimed to decrease control and jurisdiction of the US government over Native American Affairs and increase Indian self-government and responsibility. Many of the Meriam report's recommendations for reform were incorporated in the Indian Reorganization Act. The Reorganization Act remains the basis of federal legislation concerning Indian affairs. Also referred to as the "Indian New Deal", allotment and federal boarding schools are now dead. John Collier was a heavy advocate for Native American affairs and was a huge part of the BIA and government support of native americans.

Metacomet

Also known as Metacom or King Philip. Metacomet was the leader of the Wompanoag and Narragansett Indians located throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. He was a Sachem leader and led King Philip's War in 1675. The war was fought between the colonists and the natives in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Constant tension between the two ultimately led to the start of King Philip's War.

General Allotment Act 1887

Also known as the Dawes Act of 1887. The General Allotment Act of 1887 gave the US President the ability to so seize Native American territory and divide it amongst tribes and individuals for private land ownership. The allotment was another attempt by the US government to try to dissolve Native American culture by creating boundaries between individuals and tribes, interrupting their daily lives and practices. They believed this breakdown would force Natives to eventually adopt the culture of white Americans. Natives were given 160 acres of land, which they would "own" in trust with the government for 25 years, meaning they did not actually have legal ownership of their lands. After the 25 years, the natives that "own" the land are supposed to be granted citizenship.

Meriam Report

During the 1920s attitudes in mainstream American culture shifted from hostility to pity when discussing the welfare of Native Americans in North American. In 1970 a study was conducted by the Institute of Government Research (IGR). The study analyzed patterns of poverty among Native Americans and compared them to other populations living in North America. The report ultimately blamed the allotment policy for the high levels of poverty amongst Native Americans. It also studied the infant mortality rates and the average yearly income of Native Americans and compared it to other groups living in the United States.

Grant's Peace Policy

Enacted by the Grant Administration after the civil war. Grant had good intentions with the policy but they did not turn out that way, He was known for actually valuing Native Americans as people and felt that US policy had not been working to benefit native people, the board of indian commissioners and 4 major points to the policy 1. reform native americans with education and clothing: cost too much money and was also racist 2. Reservation: put natives on reservations for 25 years and see if they come out civilized, reservations were economically and agriculturally depressing 3. allotment: private land ownership 4. end of treaty policy -the policy that actually ends up happening leaves natives severely economically depressed

Major Crimes Act

Established in 1885, United States law that states any major crime committed by a Native American on Native territory falls under United States jurisdiction. This act was established due to the US Supreme Court case titled Crow Dog's Case. In this case a Sioux native murdered another native and went unpunished. To repay the victims family, the Sioux native gave them horses. The case was reported to US officials and got the attention of the Supreme Court who claimed if the US wants jurisdiction over cases like these then they have to establish it themselves. The US government then established the Major Crimes Act in 1885. This act was controversial because it collided with Native American tribes who have their own established legal systems.

"In the White Man's Image" (documentary)

In 1875, Captain Richard Pratt escorted 72 Indian warriors suspected of murdering white settlers to Fort Marion in St. Augustine, Florida. Once there, Pratt began an ambitious experiment which involved teaching the Indians to read and write, English, putting them in uniforms and drilling them like soldiers. "Kill the Indian and the save the man," was Pratt's motto.With the blessing of Congress, the first school for Indians was established in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, to continue this "civilizing" mission. Indian students had their hair cut short and were forbidden to speak their native languages, or visit home for up to five years. By 1902, there were 26 reservation boarding schools. In the White Man's Image examines how this humanist experiment was actually cultural genocide in disguise.

King Phillip's War

Led by Metacomet, also known as King Philip in 1675. This war was fought between the allied Narraganset and Wampanoag natives and the allied colonists in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Constant tensions between the Natives and the colonists were caused because the natives felt they were being encroached upon by the colonists who were taking advantage of their lands and ruining their crops. Many believe what sparked the war was the death of Sassamon who was a colonist that interacted with both the colonists and the natives. The colonists believe the natives killed him but the natives deny it which ultimately led to the start of the fighting.

Wounded Knee Massacre

The massacre occurred in Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota in 1890. The US government and its officials were on constant watch of groups of Ghost Dancers. US officials were threatened by the Ghost Dance movement at the time. A group of Sioux Ghost Dancers were trying to escape US troops and stopped at Wounded Knee in Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. At Wounded Knee, the Ghost Dancers became trapped by the US troops and things escalated quickly. Shots were fired but both sides claim the other fired first. This massacre is said to be responsible for declaring a state of war.

Termination Policy

termination policy took place in the mid 1900s. this policy was an attempt to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream western civilization as individuals. The policy was enacted by congress in attempt to end all relations between the federal government and native american tribes. Congress claims the policy was supposed to grant all of the privileges and rights of citizenship to Natives but it actually ended tribe sovereignty and trusteeship over reservations. Natives also were then required to pay taxes which they were exempt from before the termination policy. Before termination Indian Health Services (IHS) gave health care to many tribes but after termination most tribes were deemed ineligible and were left with almost not access to health care. The termination policy left many tribes economically and educationally depressed with little to no access to health care.