The History of Sovereign Nations in dealings with the
United States

• Sovereignty is:
• The ability of a group to act as an independent nation
• Make own laws
• Conduct own business without approval

• 1770: Sovereign Nation to Sovereign Nation
• Treaties were signed
• 1830: Removal
• 1850: Reservations
• 1870: Assimilation
• 1930: Indian self-rule
• 1950: Termination
• 1960: Self-determination
• 1988: Self-determination/self-governance

• Promotion of civilization
• Open trade
• Territorial boundaries established
• Treaties
• Johnson v. McIntosh (1823)
• Doctrine of “Discovery”

• Broken treaties
• Removal was voluntary but coerced
• Cherokee “Trail of Tears”
• Federalism under attack
• Who had jurisdiction? Federal gov or State gov?
• Cherokee Nation v. Georgia
• Worcester v. Georgia
• “Domestic Dependent Nations”

Discovery of Gold/Continued Expansion
• Homestead Act 1862
• Reservations
• Allotment
• Allotment Act (Dawes Act) 1887
• Indian Agents
• Restrictions
• Constraints on hunting, ceremonial dances

• Boarding Schools
• Christian names
• English
• Trade Schools
• Meriam Report
• Churches/Missions
Native American Enlistment in WWI
US Citizenship 1924

• Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) 1934
• Attempt to preserve, protect and support tribal art, culture and social organizations and traditions
• Main goal was to stop the loss of tribal land
• 25% of Native American men enlist in WWII-highest percentage of any group

• 1945-1960 the Federal Government terminated 109 tribes.
• The belief was that tribes were acculturated and no longer needed the government as their ‘trustee’
• 1.3 million acres of land and impacted 11,000 + people
• Terminated benefits and support services for tribes
• Now under state law
• Mass movement from tribal family groups to urban centers to seek employment

• Fishing rights
• AIM
• Occupation of Alcatraz (1969)
• Trail of Broken Treaties (1973)
• Occupation of Wounded Knee (1973)
• Marches, boycotts, demonstration
• Indian Civil Rights Act (1968)

1988-today: Self-determination & self-governance
• 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
• 1990 Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act
• Obama: Tribal Leaders’ Summit
• 2009 and 2011