Colonial policies and their effects on Native societies - Native American Studies Study Guide 2024 | Fiveable (2024)

Key Terms to Review (22)

Allotment Policies: Allotment policies were government initiatives in the late 19th and early 20th centuries aimed at breaking up communal Native American lands into individual plots, which were then allocated to Native individuals. These policies intended to assimilate Native peoples into American society by promoting individual land ownership and farming, but often resulted in the loss of tribal lands and culture, and increased poverty among Native communities.

Assimilation policies: Assimilation policies refer to a set of governmental strategies aimed at integrating Indigenous peoples into the dominant culture, often resulting in the loss of their distinct languages, traditions, and social structures. These policies were prevalent in various forms throughout history, as governments sought to 'Americanize' Native populations, which led to profound cultural changes and resistance among Native communities.

Boarding school systems: Boarding school systems refer to institutions established primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries aimed at assimilating Native American children into Euro-American culture. These schools enforced a strict curriculum focused on English language, Christian values, and Western customs, often at the expense of the students' native languages and cultural identities. The legacy of these boarding school systems left profound effects on Native societies, contributing to loss of cultural heritage and intergenerational trauma.

Cultural Revitalization: Cultural revitalization refers to the process of reaffirming and renewing cultural identities, traditions, languages, and practices that have been suppressed or diminished, often due to colonization or external influences. This concept is crucial in understanding how Indigenous communities reclaim their heritage and promote their unique cultural expressions in the face of historical trauma and modern challenges.

Cultural Suppression: Cultural suppression refers to the systematic effort to undermine, diminish, or eradicate the cultural practices, languages, and identities of a particular group, often imposed by a dominant society. This process can lead to significant loss of cultural heritage and identity for marginalized communities, including Native American groups, as they faced aggressive policies aimed at assimilation and control throughout history.

Dawes Act: The Dawes Act, enacted in 1887, aimed to assimilate Native Americans into American society by allotting them individual plots of land and granting U.S. citizenship. This act marked a significant shift in federal policy from recognizing tribal sovereignty to promoting individual land ownership, which ultimately led to the fragmentation of tribal lands and communities.

Encomienda system: The encomienda system was a labor system established by the Spanish crown during the colonization of the Americas that granted Spanish settlers the right to extract forced labor from indigenous populations. This system allowed colonists to claim land and demand tribute from local tribes in exchange for protection and Christianization, which significantly impacted Native societies by disrupting their social structures and leading to widespread exploitation and demographic decline.

Forced labor practices: Forced labor practices refer to the system where individuals are compelled to work against their will under the threat of punishment or coercion. This practice was prominently used during colonial times, especially in relation to Indigenous populations, impacting their social structures and economies. The imposition of forced labor was often justified through colonial policies that aimed to exploit Native resources and labor for the benefit of European settlers, leading to profound changes in Native societies.

Ghost Dance: The Ghost Dance is a spiritual movement that emerged among Native American communities in the late 19th century, particularly among the Plains tribes, as a response to the devastating effects of colonization. It aimed to restore traditional ways of life and bring about a renewal of the earth, promising the return of ancestors and the restoration of Native sovereignty. This dance was not just a cultural expression but also a significant form of resistance against colonial policies, illustrating both a strategy of adaptation and the importance of ceremonial practices in maintaining identity amidst external pressures.

Intergenerational transmission: Intergenerational transmission refers to the process by which beliefs, values, customs, and social behaviors are passed down from one generation to the next. This concept highlights how experiences, particularly traumatic or oppressive ones, can affect not just individuals but entire communities over time, impacting their cultural identity and social structure.

Land appropriation strategies: Land appropriation strategies refer to the various methods and practices used by colonial powers to seize, control, and exploit indigenous lands for economic gain and settlement. These strategies often involved legal manipulation, military force, and diplomatic negotiations, which resulted in significant displacement and disruption of Native societies. Understanding these strategies is essential to grasp the broader effects of colonial policies on indigenous populations and their cultures.

Mission System: The mission system was a network of religious and agricultural communities established by Spanish colonizers in the Americas, particularly in California, with the goal of converting Native Americans to Christianity while also integrating them into European-style agricultural practices. This system significantly impacted Native societies by altering their traditional ways of life, promoting European culture and religion, and often leading to a decline in Indigenous populations due to disease and forced labor.

Pan-Indian movements: Pan-Indian movements refer to initiatives and organizations aimed at uniting various Native American tribes and individuals across North America to promote shared interests, rights, and cultural identity. These movements emerged as a response to historical injustices and ongoing social and political challenges, seeking to foster solidarity among diverse Indigenous peoples while addressing issues such as land rights, sovereignty, and cultural preservation.

Potlatch: Potlatch is a ceremonial feast and gift-giving event practiced by various Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, which serves as a way to establish social status and redistribute wealth within the community. This cultural tradition highlights the importance of community, reciprocity, and the role of social hierarchies among Indigenous groups, revealing deep-rooted customs that contrast with European values during colonial times.

Pueblo Revolt of 1680: The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 was a significant uprising by the Pueblo people against Spanish colonizers in present-day New Mexico, aimed at reclaiming their autonomy and cultural practices. This event marked a pivotal moment in the resistance of Native societies against colonial oppression and the enforcement of foreign religious beliefs, showcasing the tensions between indigenous populations and European settlers.

Religious conversion: Religious conversion is the process by which individuals adopt a new faith or change their existing religious beliefs. This transformation often involves significant personal, social, and cultural implications, especially in the context of interactions between different religious groups and communities. During periods of colonization, religious conversion frequently served as a tool for colonial powers to exert control and influence over Native societies, leading to profound changes in their spiritual practices and cultural identities.

Repartimiento system: The repartimiento system was a colonial labor system established in Spanish America, where Spanish authorities allocated Indigenous people to Spanish settlers for forced labor. This system was meant to replace the earlier encomienda system and aimed to regulate the exploitation of Indigenous labor while maintaining a steady supply of workers for colonial enterprises. Although it was framed as a more humane alternative, it still resulted in significant abuses and exploitation of Native populations.

Reservation system: The reservation system refers to a policy established by the U.S. government that designated specific areas of land for Native American tribes, often as a way to confine them and control their movements. This system was intended to reduce conflicts between settlers and Native populations by segregating them onto these designated lands, but it also disrupted traditional ways of life, economies, and cultures. The consequences of this policy included forced relocation, loss of ancestral lands, and ongoing struggles for sovereignty and rights, which lead to various strategies of resistance and adaptation.

Right of Discovery: The right of discovery is a legal and philosophical principle that emerged in the context of European colonialism, asserting that European powers had the authority to claim land inhabited by Indigenous peoples based on their 'discovery' of it. This concept was used to justify colonization and the exploitation of Native lands, as it positioned Indigenous peoples as 'discoverable' rather than sovereign nations with their own rights to land and resources.

Terra nullius: Terra nullius is a Latin term meaning 'land belonging to no one' and refers to the legal doctrine that a territory is unowned and can be claimed by a sovereign state. This concept was often used by colonial powers to justify the appropriation of land occupied by Indigenous peoples, disregarding their sovereignty and rights. It highlights the colonial mindset that devalued Native societies and facilitated the expansion of European empires into territories already inhabited by Native populations.

Treaty-making: Treaty-making is the formal process through which agreements are established between sovereign entities, typically involving negotiations and mutual consent. This practice was pivotal in shaping the interactions between colonial powers and Native American nations, as treaties often dictated land rights, resource access, and sovereignty, influencing the social, political, and economic landscapes of Indigenous communities.

Tribal sovereignty: Tribal sovereignty refers to the inherent authority of indigenous tribes to govern themselves and make decisions regarding their internal affairs without external interference. This concept is foundational for understanding the relationship between Native American tribes and the federal government, as it highlights the rights of tribes to self-determination and self-governance.