A Step Backwards
Starting in the 1950's federal governments Indian policy shifted rapidly. They turned to the idea of "termination", a policy that was broken up into three main parts: relocation of American Indians, termination of tribes, and reducing federal government involvement. This new policy was disliked by nearly every American Indian, and violated tribes rights to culture by overthrowing tribal sovereignty.
"Conservative terminationists . . . found Indian sovereignty, or dual citizenship as they often called it, unacceptable" (Historian Larry Burt).
House Resolution 108
"It is the policy of Congress, as rapidly as possible, to make the Indians . . . subject to the same laws and entitled to the same privileges and responsibilities as are applicable to other citizens of the United States, to end their status as wards of the United States, and to grant them all of the rights and prerogatives pertaining to American citizenship." |
Relocation Policy
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Public Law 280
"The consent of the United States is hereby given to any . . . State to assume . . . such measure of jurisdiction over any or all such civil causes of action arising within such Indian country . . . and those civil laws of such State . . . shall have the same force and effect within such Indian country or part thereof as they have elsewhere within that State." |
Disastrous Consequences
Eventually, this policy was recognized as counterproductive.
"Termination proved to be an abysmal failure everywhere" (William G. Robbins).
"This policy of forced termination is wrong. . . . We must assure the Indian that he can assume control of his own life without being separated involuntary from the tribal group. And we must make it clear that Indians can become independent of Federal control without being cut off from Federal concern and Federal support."
- President Richard Nixon
- President Richard Nixon