Generalization:

U.S. government policy toward Native Americans has never been very consistent, and even the best intended of policies have tended to backfire.  Further, Native Americans themselves disagree sharply in their ideas both in regard to government policy and in regard to the best long-term direction for native peoples.   Comment.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, NORTHWEST ORDINANCE, INDIAN REMOVAL ACT, CHEROKEE, TRAIL OF TEARS, DAWS SEVERALTY ACT, ALLOTMENT, INDIAN REORGANIZATION ACT (WHEELER-HOWARD ACT), RELOCATION, TRIBAL COUNCIL, INDIAN SELF-DETERMINATION ACT, B.I.A., I.H.S., MITAKUYE OYASIN

I.                    Introduction

II.                 Basic problem for U.S. government in establishing policy

A.    Balancing Native American/White needs and demands

B.     Why bother? Why is it so important to find that balance?

C.    Was balance possible?

III.               Policy One: Indians as Sovereign Nation (1776-1812 and later)

A.    Basic policy

B.     Northwest Ordinance

C.    Constitution

D.    Specific laws

E.     Problems with this policy

IV.              Removal (1812-1850 and later)

A.    Indian Removal Act of 1830

B.     Trail of Tears

C.    Other problems with this policy

V.                 Reservations (1850-1887 and later)

A.    Land for peace?  Or for what, exactly?

B.     Problems with this policy

1.      Corrupt agents

2.      Abrupt change in way of life

VI.              Allotment and assimilation (1887-1934 and later)

A.    Dawes Severalty Act

B.     Indian Citizenship Act

C.    Problems with this policy

VII.            Tribal Reorganization (1934-1950 and later)

A.    Indian Reorganization Act (Wheeler-Howard Act)

B.     Positives of policy

C.    Problems

VIII.         Relocation and Termination (1950-1956 and later)

IX.              Government Policy Today