Federal Government attitudes and actions
Attitude/Action Key Features Impact on Natives Rights
Manifest Destiny -The belief that it was -To white Americans, this
American’s God-Given right became sufficient reason for
to settle in the land in the them to disregard the rights
continent of other settlers (the
Natives) on their lands
The Reservation Policy 1871-87 -Govt wanted to end -Shows the govt’s want to
Native’s Nomadic life and control the natives
separate them from the
buffalo
-After 1871, reservations no
longer a right by treaty but
forced
-Government reduced size
or reservations without
consideration of earlier
treaties
-Introduction of the allotment
policy
The Allotment Policy 1887-1934 -Through the Dawes ct of -Attempt to turn Natives into
1887 landowners, disregarding
-Reservation lands divided their entitlement to that land.
into homesteads and Shows disregard for their
allotted tribal culture and belief
-After 25 years of owning -The government definition
the lands, would have full of civil rights does not apply
citizenship and therefore to Native definition - didn’t
rights understand their wishes and
did not want to
Lone Wolf v Hitchcock, 1903 -Gave the government the -Clear primitive thinking
right to revoke all treaties -Outward discrimination in
made with the Natives legislation
-Stated they were ‘an -Disregard for their culture,
ignorant and dependent way of life and subsequently
race’, not citizens of the ignores their rights
USA and therefore had no
rights
Pueblo Indians 1921, Supreme
Court Ruling
Bursum Bill, 1922 -Authorised acquisition of
Pueblo lands
-Would take 60,000 acres
from Pueblos (contradicts
earlier treaties)
Attitude/Action Key Features Impact on Natives Rights
Manifest Destiny -The belief that it was -To white Americans, this
American’s God-Given right became sufficient reason for
to settle in the land in the them to disregard the rights
continent of other settlers (the
Natives) on their lands
The Reservation Policy 1871-87 -Govt wanted to end -Shows the govt’s want to
Native’s Nomadic life and control the natives
separate them from the
buffalo
-After 1871, reservations no
longer a right by treaty but
forced
-Government reduced size
or reservations without
consideration of earlier
treaties
-Introduction of the allotment
policy
The Allotment Policy 1887-1934 -Through the Dawes ct of -Attempt to turn Natives into
1887 landowners, disregarding
-Reservation lands divided their entitlement to that land.
into homesteads and Shows disregard for their
allotted tribal culture and belief
-After 25 years of owning -The government definition
the lands, would have full of civil rights does not apply
citizenship and therefore to Native definition - didn’t
rights understand their wishes and
did not want to
Lone Wolf v Hitchcock, 1903 -Gave the government the -Clear primitive thinking
right to revoke all treaties -Outward discrimination in
made with the Natives legislation
-Stated they were ‘an -Disregard for their culture,
ignorant and dependent way of life and subsequently
race’, not citizens of the ignores their rights
USA and therefore had no
rights
Pueblo Indians 1921, Supreme
Court Ruling
Bursum Bill, 1922 -Authorised acquisition of
Pueblo lands
-Would take 60,000 acres
from Pueblos (contradicts
earlier treaties)
