Category: Uncategorized

Blog Post 10/25: How did the IRA of 1934 help tribes, and/or how did it harm them?

When I read about the Indian Reorganization Act or “New Deal,” in 1934, I found that John Collier, the commissioner for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, was going around campaigning to have this act passed. He wanted to undo the wrongdoings done to Natives from the Dawes Allotment Act of 1887 which caused the major loss of Native lands. He also wanted to right the wrongs from the attempt of forced assimilation by giving the Native Americans the right to practice their culture, language, religious beliefs, as well as the right to self govern back. The IRA did give the Natives back their right to own land and have more control over their affairs, however, some seen that this type of independence was fake because tribes would still continue to be under the BIA and still not in complete control.

How did the IRA help tribes and how it harmed them? Blog for 10/25/19

What I found from my readings about the Indian Reorganization Act or “New Deal,” in 1934, is that John Collier the commissioner for the Bureau of Indian Affairs was campaigning to have this Act passed. Collier sent out men to rally and get Indian tribes on board with the act. Collier wanted to do the opposite of the wrongdoings done to Native Americans for the Dawes Act of 1887, which caused the loss of Indian lands. He also wanted to right the wrongs from the attempt of forced assimilation by giving back Native Americans the right to practice their culture, language, religious beliefs, as well as the right to self govern. There was talk as if Natives were going to be able to be sovereign and self govern their own tribes, but Collier didn’t fully explain that the government would still have the last say. So, Native Americans still needed to be approved of what their tribes did within their own government, in all actuality the government would still be able to dictate what tribes did and continued to pull the strings on the Natives American doings.  

Collier was in awe with the Indian way of life, he seemed to view Indian life through rose-colored glasses. He seemed to be under the impression that they didn’t want much, were easily satisfied, and happy with their lives. Collier didn’t see that they had been going without many things for years and struggling for their needs to be heard. One tribe was losing people from disease and other illnesses that whites had brought with them and they did not have roads to gain access to doctors in a town twenty-five miles away. The tribe could only get to the town by using a river and the river would freeze during winter making it a rough trip, which lead to many dying before a doctor could reach them or they could reach the doctor. 

Collier tried to push for the Act to pass, he talked it up with all these promises of land and economic support from the government to build on the land so they could find their tribes to be able to govern themselves. But, some tribes were wary of these promises that were being made because of the governments past wrongdoings to their people. Tribal people wanted to see this proposed legislation so they could look it over and vote on it, but they were never showed any paperwork. Collier and his campaigners only held meetings that were all talk, trying to paint rainbows and butterflies to the tribes in order to get them to vote for the act. 

Some tribes were for Collier’s reform because they thought the act would restore and keep their lands, culture, and governance of their own. Other tribes thought it would ruin their common lives and rob them of everything that they had like; customs, land, and traditions. The IRA Act of 1934, had good things and bad things all mixed together. The IRA Act stopped the sale of Indian land, stopped the allotment system, and allowed for Native Americans to get somewhat of a say with their building of tribal government, they were allowed to receive loaned funds to build farms programs and cattle programs. Native students were allowed the opportunity to take out educational loans to further their education at higher institutions. This act did not help with setting Native Americans up to govern themselves with no idea of how to do it, they had been governed by the government for so long they didn’t know how to not rely on them anymore or how to get it rolling. Natives were left on their own to build their enterprises, with no knowledge or teaching on how to be a capitalist, in order to make it in the country. The IRA promised funding to build the tribe’s economics but were given little help. Tribes were still in poverty and it carried on down the years.

How did the IRA of 1934 help tribes, and/or how did it harm them?

The IRA of 1934’s intent was to reverse the harmful points established in the Dawes Act that encouraged the Natives to abandon their cultural identity and instead conform to the whites’ standards. In the process of passing this, Collier (the New Deal’s commissioner of Indian Affairs) made the comment that “the most interesting and important fact about Indians was that they do not expect much, often they expect nothing at all; yet they are happy”. This was not necessarily true, rather an observation made in the eyes of someone who was seeing what they wanted to see (more or less). Undoubtedly, Collier’s statement stemmed off his “ignorance is bliss” views, him and the others who established this Act also clung to this ignorance. In turn, this was evident in the Act which ended up giving the Natives very little economic aid (because they expected nothing at all, anyways!). Their resistance to awareness of Native issues and the current poverty crisis among the tribes was harmful to say the least, as the IRA had potential to make a real difference economically. Unsurprisingly though, this potential was unharnessed and no one stepped up to advocate effectively at the time, leading to this lack of funds which led to continuation of the poverty crisis for decades.

That being said, the IRA did give the Natives back their right to own land and have more control over their affairs. This “independence” was faux to some extent though, as tribes would continue to be under the Bureau of Affairs and not completely in control still. Overall the tribes were divided on this and many did not end up signing off on the deal. Its effects were not immediate, but rather perceived clearly a generation later.

How did American Indians contribute to/participate in the Progressive Era, and how did the reforms of that era affect them?

Progressivism dominated the late 1800s/early 1900s. Its main focus was “social purity”, as well as action and experimentation. Equal rights, lowered railroad rates, improved education, new factory regulation and better compensation for workers were just a few of the many things fought for in the name of progressivism. During this era “Pan-Indianism” emerged, the social movement that’s main focus was advocating for Native Americans as a whole. “The Society” was made up mostly of Natives advocating for their people. They fought for racist stereotypes to be destroyed, spread awareness on the worsening health and housing conditions among the Natives, promoted education and citizenship and a federal department to handle the Native court cases. These movements though were not widespread and overall did not put more than a dent in the large injustices that existed. That being said, the Society was the first lobby of Native Americans and did open the door to discussion about problems in the Natives’ societies.

Reforms that affected them included the Indian Citizenship Act as well as the boarding schools, that were no doubt pushed forward in the name of “progressivism”. The whites claimed these institutions to be a reformation opportunity for the “savages”, and that the Natives needed the boarding schools to become socially pure. In reality, “purity” in this circumstance was code for “white”. Native Americans were already civilized, just not in the way the whites wanted them to be. Thus, these cruel boarding schools were the whites’ solution to purify the Natives. Cruelty and racism thrived in these institutions and created generational trauma that still lasts today among Native communities. Progressivism was an umbrella that was wide and while many positive things came from it, there were also cruel agendas (such as the boarding schools) that were established and excused merely because as they were named as “progressive” movements.   

How did colonialism and imperialism (both in the US and abroad) contribute to immigration and industrialization?

Colonialism as a concept was generally considered to be a “great” opportunity for people who were unable to better themselves in their homeland. The widespread myth was that immigrating to America was the golden ticket to wealth and wellbeing. (While this did happen, it was few and far between among the millions of colonists and was certainly not the norm by any means.). Drawn in by the image of happiness and wealthiness, these immigrants soon realized that was an illusion. The only wealthy part of their picture was their bosses who did not care whether their health suffered working endless hours for a very minute wage. Instead of wealth and wellbeing, these immigrants soon found themselves overworked and underpaid; chained to the command of industrialist titans who cared only about profit.

Another harsh reality was that instead of being the picture of flourishing health, at the time New York (the most popular place for entry for most immigrants, generally speaking) was overcome by disease, poverty, crowding, and dirt. Immigrants upon entry were most often met not with the bright and warm welcome they’d envisioned, but instead with hostility and cruelty. Racism thrived and to find acceptance, newcomers were basically forced to their own kin/countryfolk, if only to be able to exist peacefully as they went about their day-to-day.  

The colonialism/imperialism myth of America, “the Great American Dream”, contributed to immigration and industrialization by drawing millions into the U.S.. Industrialism could not have thrived without the excess of immigration at the time. Immigrants were poor and had no other choice most often but to succumb to the factory/sweatshop job which in turn led to the success of the industrialists.

Blog Post 10/4 How did American Indians contribute to/participate in the Progressive Era, and how did the reforms of that era effect them?

American Indians participated in the Progressive Era by being educated and advocating for their people. The Society of American Indians was formed in 1911 and consisted of educated American Indian members that had different views for tribal views and assimilation. The society was inspired in part by a white Ohio sociologist Dr. Fayette McKenzie who believed it was time for Indians to lead themselves. The society contained mostly Indian leaders who had attended Indian schools, furthered their education to obtain a degree, and lived on Reservations. The members that believed in assimilation wanted Indians to be fully engaged in America’s way of social, economic, and political ways. The Society mainly promoted Indian education, Indian citizenship, and a federal department to handle Indian court cases. In reality it offered a forum for sharing dreams and venting resentment. The Society also was weakened by internal disputes over peyotism. The Society of American Indians represented a milestone in Indian history, it was the first lobby of modern Indian intellectuals to play the white man’s game of debate, parliamentary procedure, and public relations.

Blog 10-04-19

In the Institution of expression of what scholars would call as modern “pan-indianism” began in 1911. Sociologist Dr.Fayette believed it was time for indians to lead themselves. Indians were forced to go to boarding schools where they became popular writers and artists, lawyers and doctors. Some even became the highest placed indian as a government bureaucrat on Indian Affairs, also a reservation superintendent. Indians were the first to volunteer for military service. In principal the society promoted Indian Education along with Indian citizenship, and a federal department to handle indian court cases. The indian society was weakened by internal disputes over peytoism. Gertrude Bonnin and Charles Eastman insisted that the peyote was an addictive scourge, a destroyer of Indian character, and a throwback to paganism. Indian reformed and offered protection for all native religions. Progressive Indian lobbying in 1924 got Congress to pass the Indian Citizenship Act. The Indian Citizen Act didn’t mean all Indians were citizens and able to vote. Some Indians chose not to become Citizens. Native Americans were fighting for their rights to be treated fair and making a powerful impact on their future.

Blog Post 9/20 How did colonialism and imperialism contribute to immigration and industrialization?

Colonialism and imperialism contributed both to immigration and industrialization by people coming from their native homelands to escape poverty and to escape political and religious persecution. Big companies benefited from this as they were able to get cheap labor and bring in more revenue. The first immigrants to come to America were from Scandinavia, Germany, and Ireland and the second to come were the Italians and Slavs. Immigrants faced great prejudice when going to work in the United States because they often were “not welcomed” by some people. Immigrants usually worked in factories, sweatshops, workshops, mines, mills, bridges, subways, and railroads. Some of these jobs were worked by women and children.

Blog 9-20-19

There was immigration movement from all over the world that fled into the United States the contributed to the growth of cities. Everyone wanted to live the American dream. The US needed workers that would work for cheap. There was always someone that was willing to take your position for cheaper pay because there were so many looking for jobs. It was survival of the fittest. The rich and powerful stay rich and powerful because that was the ” natural order” as the poor stay poor. Ethnic diversity and racism played a role in dividing the skilled workers. Skin color would define what job you held. The common laborers formed the backbone of the American labor force. They built the railroads, and subways, basically laid the the foundation of industrial America.