Assimilation and Allotment The need for assimilation Assimilation

Assimilation and Allotment

The “need” for assimilation �Assimilation is the change from one culture to another. � Native culture to “American” white culture � Had no choice in the matter � Seen as in their best interest to stay alive �based on the idea that when indigenous people learned United States customs and values, they would be able to merge tribal traditions with American culture and peacefully join the majority of the society

Assimilation Schools �Florida- testing ground. Warrior prisoners forced to change to white way of life and become “civilized”. �Soon the idea was morphed into schools for young Indian children. � Take them early so they can learn early and be accepted into white society. � Forcefully taken from home

Carlisle Indian School �Became the model for Indian Schools across the country �Arrival meant a great change � Boys long hair was cut � Forced to choose white names � Could not speak in native languages � Did ALL the janitorial and cooking � No objects or mementos from home �Pratt attempted to “Kill the Indian: Save the Man”

Problems with discrimination �Trained for “white” jobs �No connections or references �Still seen as savages �Couldn’t go home �No place to live

Dishonor �Helen Hunt Jackson became a Native Rights Activist after hearing of the horrors of reservations and the forced removal of the Ponca. �Century of Dishonor: Jackson wrote a book in which she condemned state and federal Indian policies. She recounted history of broken treaties. A Century of Dishonor called for significant reform in government policy toward Native Americans. � Jackson sent a copy to every member of Congress with a quote from Benjamin Franklin printed in red on the cover: "Look upon your hands: they are stained with the blood of your relations. "

General Allotment �The General Allotment was a system created by Senator Dawes to help Natives change to white culture. � It took tribal lands and broke them up into 160 acre lots, one for each member of the tribe � Idea was that if the land was divided, then they could grow their own crops and support themselves. �Not rely on the tribe �Excess lands were sold to white settlers � Money went to the Tribes � Meant to help whites and Natives live as neighbors

Problems with Allotment �Whites cheated some Natives into selling their land to them below value �Natives were not used to growing crops on the Oklahoma lands so they were unsuccessful at farming �Many did not WANT to have their own land �You had to sign the Roll to get land � Some refused to sign