Cultural Genocide

Definition

Cultural genocide refers to the systematic destruction or suppression of the cultural practices, beliefs, and traditions of a particular ethnic, racial, or religious group, often as a means of assimilating or eliminating that group. It is a form of cultural oppression that aims to erase the unique identity and heritage of a people.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cultural genocide was a key aspect of the Indian Removal policies in the United States, as the government sought to assimilate Native American tribes into mainstream American culture.
2. The Dawes Act of 1887 was a piece of legislation that aimed to destroy Native American tribal structures and force the assimilation of indigenous peoples into white American society.
3. The boarding school system, established by the U.S. government, forcibly removed Native American children from their families and communities, prohibiting them from practicing their cultural traditions and languages.
4. The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 was an attempt to reverse the cultural genocide policies of the previous decades, restoring some autonomy and self-governance to Native American tribes.
5. The Assault on American Indian Life and Culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries involved the systematic suppression of Native American religious practices, languages, and traditional ways of life.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Indian Removal policies of the 19th century in the United States were an example of cultural genocide.
  • The Indian Removal policies of the 19th century, such as the Indian Removal Act of 1830, were a clear example of cultural genocide. These policies forcibly relocated Native American tribes from their ancestral lands to designated 'Indian Territory,' often resulting in the destruction of their cultural practices, traditions, and ways of life. The government's goal was to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream American society, effectively erasing their unique identities and heritage. This systematic suppression of Native American culture was a deliberate attempt to undermine the autonomy and self-determination of indigenous peoples in the United States.
• Describe the role of the boarding school system in the cultural genocide of Native American communities.
  • The boarding school system, established by the U.S. government, was a key component of the cultural genocide of Native American communities. These schools forcibly removed Native American children from their families and communities, prohibiting them from practicing their cultural traditions, speaking their native languages, and maintaining their connections to their ancestral lands and ways of life. The boarding schools aimed to 'civilize' and assimilate Native American children, stripping them of their cultural identities and forcing them to adopt the dominant white American culture. This systematic destruction of Native American culture and the disruption of family and community structures was a deliberate attempt to undermine the survival and self-determination of indigenous peoples in the United States.
• Analyze the impact of the Dawes Act and the Indian Reorganization Act on the cultural genocide of Native American tribes.
  • The Dawes Act of 1887 and the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 represent two contrasting approaches to the cultural genocide of Native American tribes. The Dawes Act aimed to destroy tribal structures and force the assimilation of indigenous peoples into white American society, contributing to the systematic suppression of Native American cultural practices, languages, and traditional ways of life. In contrast, the Indian Reorganization Act was an attempt to reverse the cultural genocide policies of the previous decades, restoring some autonomy and self-governance to Native American tribes. However, the legacy of the Dawes Act and the boarding school system had already inflicted significant damage on the cultural identities and traditions of many Native American communities, making the process of cultural revitalization and self-determination an ongoing challenge. The interplay between these two policies highlights the complex and multifaceted nature of cultural genocide and the persistent struggle for indigenous rights and cultural preservation.

Related terms

Assimilation:

The process by which a minority group or culture comes to resemble a dominant group or adopt the traits of the dominant culture.

Ethnocide: The deliberate and systematic destruction of the cultural heritage of a people or ethnic group.

Forced Acculturation: The process of imposing the cultural traits of one group onto another, often through coercive means.