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Indian Removal Act
In 1830, the U.S. forced Native Americans to move west of the Mississippi to make room for U.S. expansion with the Indian Removal Act(Little). -
The Gradual Civilation Act
The Gradual Civilization Act required all indian males over the age of 21 who could speak, read, and write English or French to renounce their Indian status. This directly relates to the Native American boarding schools and how English is forced upon them(“GCSE History - Life for”). -
First off-reservation Native American boarding school is created
Captain Richard Henry Pratt constructs the very first federally funded off-reservation Native American Boarding school in 1879 by order of the US federal government. Having an off-reservation boarding school is a very big deal because the students are seperated from their home. Many ties are severed in the process allowing for easier assimilation and better results(Marr). -
Indian Appropriation Act is passed
On May 17, 1882, the United States Congress passed a bill known as the Indian Appropriation Act, whereby a sum of money was to be appropriated for the building of a school for American Indian youth. This shows that the United States government was conciously funding the destruction of a culture. they were actively funneling money into a system that was designed to rid the country of a race through assimilation(Marr). -
Abolition of residential schools is recommended.
Indian Affairs regional inspectors recommend abolition of residential schools. It has been a known issue for a while yet nothing has been done about it. The governemnt said they would improve the schools but did very little to help. Not only were the goals of the schools inhumane but the conditions in the schools were sickening. There were many health issues(Hemenway). -
Native American Languages Act of 1990 is passed
The Native American Languages Act of 1990 is the title given for executive order enacted by Congress on October 30, 1990. The act declared that Native Americans were entitled to use their own languages. Congress updated the act in 1992 by adding a grant program to “assist Native Americans in assuring the survival” of their languages. Although this was essential, the amount granted was not nearly sufficient to finance programming for all interested tribes("Unspoken: America’s Native American”). -
Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act is passed
This act added funding for language schools, master-apprentice programs, immersion camps, teacher training, and language classes for the parents of students enrolled in native language programs. In 2009, such programs were granted in all about 12 million dollars although this still wasn’t enough to finance the programs(Tapahonso).
