-
Apr 27, 1492
Christopher Columbus
Spanish Explorer Christopher Columbus arrives in the Americas and encounters Native Americans. Columbus murders and enslaves many Native Americans in the coming years. -
Indian Removal Act passed
President Andrew Jackson submits bill to Congress calling for the removal of tribes in the east to lands west of the Mississippi. On May 28th, the Indian Removal Act was passed. -
Second Seminole War
The second Seminole war-between the US government and the Seminole people is begun. The war goes on for 7 years and costs the government between 40-60 million dollars. Over 1500 troops are killed and most Seminoles are moved out of the state. -
Trail of Tears
Although the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional to remove them. Thousands of Native Americans are forcibly removed from their lands in Georgia and Arkansas and forced to move to Oklahoma. Thousands of Native Americans die on this journey. -
Extermination of Buffalo Herds
Extermination of buffalo herds by sports and hide hunters severely limits Plains Indians food supply and ability to survive. This goes on for 25 years. -
Homestead Act is passed
Congress passes the Homestead Act making western lands belonging to many Indian Nations available to non-Indian American settlers. This marked the beginning of mass migrations to Indian lands for non-Indian settlement. -
Indian Appropriation Act
This Congressional Act specified that no tribe thereafter would be recognized as an independent nation with which the federal government could make a treaty. All future Indian policies would not be negotiated with Indian tribes through treaties, but rather would be determined by passing Congressional statutes or executive orders. Marking a significant step backwards, the act made tribal members wards of the state rather than preserving their rights as members of sovereign nations. -
The Dawes Act is passed
The Dawes Act, or General Allotment Act is passed, giving the president power to reduce landholdings of Native Americans across the country by allotting 160 acres to family heads and 80 acres to other individuals. The surplus land could then be opened up and sold. -
Indian Child Welfare Act is passed
ICWA is established.This Congressional Act addressed the widespread practice of transferring the care and custody of Indian children to non-Indians. It recognized the authority of tribal courts to hear the adoption and guardianship cases of Indian children and established a strict set of statutory guidelines for those cases heard in state court.
