Federal Legislation Pertaining to the Native Americans

Laws discussed on subsequent pages are the Indian Removal Act of 1830, the Dawes Act of 1887 and the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs John Collier meets with South Dakota Blackfoot Indian chiefs in 1934 to discuss the Wheeler-Howard Act. The Act, later known as the Indian Reorganization Act allowed for Native American self-government on a tribal basis. (Photo Credit: Bettmann/CORBIS)anization Act allowed for Native American self-government on a tribal basis. (Photo Credi

Photo Source:

A source for articles, photographs and primary sources:

http://www.history.com/photos/native-americans-legislation/photo6

Review:

How could the relationship between President Grover Cleveland and the Native population of the United States have affected the passing and enforcement of the Dawes Act?

(open question- President Grover Cleveland had an adversarial relationship with the Native Americans)

According to written law, US government was not allowed to use force or coercion in oder to make Native Americans give up their land. Why then did the Indian Removal Act lead to a mass exodus, devastation and death?

(The US government willfully ignored the letter of the law and, in fact, forced and coerced Native Americans off their own land)

While there were positive aspects of the Indian Reorganization Act, there were elements of the law that, according to the Native Americans, could have been improved upon. What are some of these elements?

(Many tribes were excluded from the law, even though tribes were now allowed to have a governing body, all decisions still had to be approved by the US Secretary of the Interior...)