Native American Treaties and Policies

Questions and Answers

What was the ruling of Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock?

Native Americans had full autonomy over their lands.

All treaties with Native American tribes must be honored.

The Supreme Court had no jurisdiction over Indian affairs.

Congress could make whatever Indian policies it chose, ignoring all existing treaties. (correct)

What did the Dawes Allotment Act do?

Divided up reservations and allotted parcels of land to Indians as private property.

The Medicine Lodge Treaty of 1867 included which tribes?

Kiowa, Comanche, Kiowa-Apache, Cheyenne, Arapaho

Lone Wolf was successful in his complaint to the Supreme Court.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who ruled that American Indians were 'wards of the nation'?

<p>Justice Edward D. White</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock

The 1903 Supreme Court ruling established that Congress had the authority to create Indian policies, disregarding existing treaties.
This decision set a precedent for further disregard of Native American rights and treaties.

Dawes Allotment Act

Enacted to divide reservations and allocate individual parcels of land to Native Americans as private property.
The act aimed to assimilate Native Americans into American society by promoting farming and private land ownership.

Medicine Lodge Treaty of 1867

Signed by the Kiowa, Comanche, Kiowa-Apache, Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes.
Required Plains Indians to reside on reservations, transition from nomadic lifestyles to farming, and adopt Western cultural practices.
Promised protection from white hunters and provision of food and clothing in exchange for adherence to the treaty.

Lone Wolf

A prominent Kiowa leader who represented the interests of the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache in legal proceedings.
Filed a complaint with the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia but lost unanimously.

Justice Edward D. White

Ruled that American Indians were "wards of the nation," placing jurisdiction over Indian lands solely within Congress.
Suggested that due process was irrelevant in matters concerning Native Americans, reinforcing federal control.
The ruling contributed to numerous treaty violations and land seizure, highlighting systemic issues within U.S. Indian policy and its detrimental effects on Native American communities.

Description

This quiz explores key legal frameworks and treaties affecting Native Americans, such as the Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock ruling and the Dawes Allotment Act. It also discusses the implications of the Medicine Lodge Treaty of 1867. Test your knowledge on the impact of these historical decisions on Native American rights.