Annotated Timeline- Native Americans

  • Indian Removal act

    Indian Removal act

    Under President Andrew Jackson, congress passed this law that allowed for the forced removal and relocation of Native American Tribes. This included the Cherokee, Muscogee, Choctaw, and many other tribes. Moved ANY Native Tribes east of Mississippi River to the West of the river.
  • The Indian Appropriation Act

    The Indian Appropriation Act

    Funded more removals of Native Tribes and declared that NO Indian Tribe could be seen as a independent nation, tribe, or power where the U.S. government would have to make treaties. This made it easier for the government to take land. This law was passed under Ulysses S. Grant with Congress. Another key player who helped shaped the policy was the Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ely S. Parker.
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    Native American Boarding Schools

    These schools were created by the US Government and Christian missionaries to “Civilize” Native American children. Wanted to stop the children from being connected with their Native culture. They cut their hair and practice Christianity. Harsh punishment, abuse, and cultural suppression occurred. This caused a loss in Indigenous culture and language still affecting Native Americans today. The founder of the schools was Richard Henry Pratt and Christian groups, and Bureau of Indian Affairs.
  • Code of Indian Offenses

    Code of Indian Offenses

    This was a list of rules that banned many traditional native practices like, Sun Dance and Potlatch. This lead to Native ceremonies being forgotten and criminalized and lead to assimilation.
  • Dawes Act of 1887

    Dawes Act of 1887

    This is a federal law passed which broke up Tribes reservations to allotments and sold them to white settlers. This isolated to reservations instead of on individual properties. They lost a total of 90 million acres. President Grover Cleveland passed it into law with Henry L. Dawes as the author of the law.
  • Wounded Knee Massacre

    Wounded Knee Massacre

    The US 7th Calvary surrounded the Lakota camp and opened fire. This lead to the death of around 300 of the Lakota people. This is significant as it marked the end of the Indian Wars and consequences of what the as US was doing. Important people were Lakota Sioux the Chief, the US army and the US 7th Calvary.
  • Indian Relocation Act

    Indian Relocation Act

    This was a law passed to get Native Americans to move from reservations to cities for jobs. This changed population distribution in cities and pushed assimilation. This was pushed by US Congress and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
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    Indian Adoption Project

    This took native children from their tribes and families and placed them with whites families that would adopt them. This lead to a native cultural starting to get lost as they were separated from it and led to the creation of the Indian Child Welfare Act. The BIA and child welfare agencies were all apart of this process as well as the tribes the children were taken from.
  • Indian Civil Rights Act

    Indian Civil Rights Act

    Guaranteed Indian Tribes most of the rights stated in the Bill of Rights and re-established some freedoms and helped protect Native Rights. This occurred under President Lyndon B. Johnson and impacted all Tribe members.
  • Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act

    Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act

    Recognized tribal governments and gave them more power. A big step towards tribal sovereignty. this occurred under President Gerald Ford and changed due to people advocating who were leaders and members of tribes.