The Termination Era was a period in the mid-20th century when the United States government sought to terminate its special relationship with Native American tribes and assimilate them into mainstream American society. This policy shift represented a significant change from the previous eras of federal-tribal relations.
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The Termination Era was initiated by the U.S. government's House Concurrent Resolution 108, passed in 1953, which declared the intent to terminate the federal-tribal relationship with Native American tribes.
The goal of Termination Era policies was to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream American society by ending their special legal status, dissolving tribal governments, and transferring tribal lands to private ownership.
Termination Era policies led to the termination of over 100 Native American tribes and the loss of millions of acres of tribal lands, severely undermining tribal sovereignty and self-determination.
The Termination Era was a significant departure from the previous Indian reservation system and the federal government's policy of supporting tribal self-governance and cultural preservation.
The Termination Era was widely criticized by Native American leaders and civil rights advocates, who argued that it violated treaties and threatened the survival of Native American cultures and communities.
Review Questions
Explain the key objectives and outcomes of the Termination Era policies implemented by the U.S. government.
The primary objectives of the Termination Era policies were to assimilate Native American tribes into mainstream American society and end the federal government's special relationship with them. This was achieved by terminating the legal status of over 100 tribes, dissolving tribal governments, and transferring tribal lands to private ownership. The outcomes of these policies were the loss of millions of acres of tribal lands, the undermining of tribal sovereignty and self-determination, and the severe disruption of Native American cultures and communities.
Analyze the shift in federal-tribal relations during the Termination Era compared to previous eras.
The Termination Era represented a significant departure from the previous federal policies towards Native American tribes. Prior to this period, the federal government had recognized the inherent sovereignty of Native American tribes and supported their self-governance and cultural preservation through the Indian reservation system. The Termination Era, however, sought to dismantle this special relationship and forcibly assimilate Native Americans into the dominant American culture, stripping them of their legal status and land rights. This shift in federal policy was widely criticized by Native American leaders and civil rights advocates as a violation of treaties and a threat to the survival of Native American communities.
Evaluate the long-term impact of the Termination Era policies on Native American tribes and the subsequent policy shifts that addressed these issues.
The Termination Era policies had devastating long-term consequences for Native American tribes. The termination of over 100 tribes and the loss of millions of acres of tribal lands severely undermined tribal sovereignty and self-determination, disrupting the cultural and economic foundations of Native American communities. In response to the widespread criticism and the negative impacts of Termination Era policies, the federal government later reversed course with the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, which restored self-governance and land rights to many tribes. This policy shift represented a recognition of the importance of tribal sovereignty and the need to support the self-determination of Native American communities, a principle that has continued to guide federal-tribal relations in the subsequent decades.
Related terms
Assimilation: The process of absorbing and integrating a minority group, such as Native Americans, into the dominant culture and society.