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Indian Removal Act
President Andrew Jackson enforced the American Indian Act where it allowed him to negotiate removal treaties with the American Indians. The removal was suppose to be voluntary but when Indians resisted to give up their land Jackson removed and forced them to give up their land anyway. -
Boarding Schools
The goal of boarding schools was to assimilate American Indians into the American way of life. The children were forced to cut their hair, leave there homes, taught Americas values and were given treatment for the children to become a "normal" American. Many children went home not knowing their native tongue or any of their elders stories. The children were not only mentally and physically abused but sexually as well. -
General Allotment Act
This act allowed the president to break up the land that was reserved for the Indians. The American Indians would recieve parts of the land and other non-natives were allowed the rest to take as their own. Tribes lost 90 million acres and their reserved land was placed in several spots all over America. -
Indian Reorganization Act
This act helped to decrease federal control over American Indian affairs. This allowed for Natives to have more self government within their own tribes. They were also given back some of their land and encouraged written constitutions. Tribal leaders were elected and tribal governments were created. -
Termination 1945-1965
The Termination Policy was a policy created by the federal government to terminate all tribes and transform them into American culture. Over 100 tribes had there status wiped. During this time the government took over millions of acres of the tribes land and sold to non-indians. The laws that applied to American society applied to the reservations at this point and time. http://www.nrcprograms.org/site/PageServer?pagename=airc_hist_terminationpolicy -
Indian Self-Determination Act
This Act allowed the government to make contracts with tribal governments. Policies were put into place and some were rejected and some were counteracted. The American Indians had power over their own education system and schools and allow for the government to write out grants to federally recognized tribes. http://www.nrcprograms.org/site/PageServer?pagename=airc_hist_selfdeterminationact -
ICWA Act
The Indian Child Welfare Act is a federal law that was created to keep American Indian children within their tribe and families. The requirements for this law is to make sure they are looking at the best interest of the children and to make sure they stay with families within their culture. American Indian children could no longer be placed in custody with families outside of their culture and families.
