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Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was created by President Andrew Jackson in 1830. This meant the president could take unsettled lands in the West and exchange them for the Indians Land. Many tribes did not go peacefully and were upset about being forced to leave their homes. This is what caused the Trail of Tears. Almost 4,000 Native Americans died fighting for their land, and on their journey to find new homes. The Trail of Tears happened in the winter creating a harsh environment to move in. -
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia
The Cherokee Nation v. Georgia case was filed by the Cherokee Nation. The Cherokee Nation was fighting laws that were against their rights as humans. Since 1828 Georgia had passed many laws that were not fair to the Cherokee nation and they felt as though they were losing rights that everyone should have. The state argued that the Cherokee Nation needed them to survive. -
Worcester v. Georgia
At this time the United States viewed Native Americans as sovereign nations. This give Congress power to regulate Indians tribes as they do with other foreign nations. This was affirmed by the United States in 1832 with the case Worcester v. Georgia. This held stated that Indians could not be taxed or regulated. This also meant the states had no authority over Native American Tribes. -
Carlisle Boarding School Opens
"Kill the Indian, Save the Man." This was said by the first director of Carlisle, Pratt. These institutions didn't try to physical kill people, but rather, kill their culture. Thousands of young children were forced to leave their families and go to boarding schools where they were stripped of their identities. They were forced to become Christian and learn other American traditions and forced to forget their own. Carlisle was open until the 1960s. -
Indian Reorganization Act
This provided a reverse of previous policies and actually encouraged the retention of the land and culture of Native Americans. This policy eventually shifted again termination and relocation was trying to put an end to Native tribes and help them to "fit in" with American society. -
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act
This act gave tribes the power to take over federal programs administration. This meant that tribes can take management of their health-care programs from the Indian Health Service. They can also manage some of their budget. A similar act was later created in 1994 called the Tribal Self-Governance Act and helped tribes with the administration of federal programs. -
Indian Child Welfare Act
This Act was created to help with violations of human rights committed again Native Americans. There were many Native children going into non-Native adoptive homes, foster care, and educational institutions that they created this Act so that Native children could stay with their culture and stay closer to any positive relatives that they have in their lives.
