Are you excited to know What is Federal Termination Policy?. Read the article to know more about it.
Introduction
The survey of 1943 conducted by the Senate of the USA reveals the pathetic conditions of people dwelling on reservations. The extreme poverty of these people was attributed to the absolute mismanagement of the Indian bureaucracy and the federal government.
So the government came up with the termination of these Indian tribes from North America.
The land ownership of these tribes was snatched away by the federal bureaucracy. The first 2 tribes who were badly affected by this policy were the Klamath (owners of timber property in Oregon) and the Agua Caliente (owners of huge land around Palm Springs). Approximately 2.5 million hectares of land were canceled, and 12000 Native Americans lost their affiliation.
Almost 14 acts were passed by Congress from 1954 to 1964 that ended the control of the federal government over 109 Indian tribes. 61 tribes were original inhabitants of Oregon and 41 were native to California. The other tribal class regions include Florida, New York, Texas, Utah, Kansas, etc.
Why was termination introduced?
The primary goal of termination was to return all Americans to their native land. This was done by terminating the provisions given to them through trusts. The laws made following this mauled the sovereignty of tribal people. Within the span of 10 years (1940-1950), a series of laws were passed that curtailed the scope of jurisdiction and reservations in those areas.
The Hoover Commission report (1949) recommended the need to bring about organizational and administrative reforms in the federal government so as to absorb all native Americans into American society.
The House report (1952) suggests that termination is the most efficient and cost-effective way of changing this federal policy.
The House concurrent resolution 108 (1953) stressed the importance of ending all relations with selected tribes and stopping providing them with any social or economic support. The resolution stated that all the Indian tribes will be discharged from the supervision and control of the federal government.
What happened after the termination policy?
This dissolved the tribal government and all the benefits were terminated. The order came for their property to be surrendered to their members. Nearly 100 tribes faced termination of their service and federal assistance. In addition, all health care facilities, utilities, education programs, etc. that were provided on reservations were ended by the federal government.
There was a law called Public Law 280 that was passed in 1953. This invested the state with the power to enforce regular criminal law on reservations as well. But the state government didn’t have additional funds and tribal people didn’t like the enforcement of any kind of law in the state without their consent. So the amendment was made to Public Law 280 and mutual consent was made mandatory in some cases.
Response to termination in various tribal groups
Florida
An emergency meeting was called regarding the issues of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The issue was that tribes did not want to end their management by the federal government. They also wanted the government to accept the fact that all the inhabitants of Florida are from the Seminole community.
A series of joint sessions and hearings were held which ultimately separated the Miccosukee from the Seminole, thus forming a different government. Finally, after achieving state recognition, the Miccosukee achieved federal recognition in 1962.
Kansas’ termination failed
The 4 tribes of Kansas were given the termination letter immediately after the passing of the Kansas Act of 1940. There was a strong protest by Potawatomi and Kickapoo tribes.
Other terminations failed
The Flathead tribes of Montana protested and suppressed the termination. The Minestonna termination bill also received criticism from the human rights committee. The human rights committee claimed that it would never fulfill the rights of Indians.
Conclusion
Due to this termination policy, Native American Indian tribes have become impoverished. They were dependent on the federal government only for economic support. The effect was so drastic that some sort of support system by the federal government was introduced by the Johnson administration.
This federal policy instigated the migration of Indians from reservations to urban areas so that they could move to the cities and urban areas to find jobs. Hence, the Bureau of Indian affairs gave financial help to these people. They made an attempt to make them Americans so that they would become disconnected from their heritage.
FAQ
- What was the government motive behind termination?
The US government was very clever in its approach. By depriving the tribal people of their land ownership, they would acquire the timber property and use it for their own business and profits.
All the legacy of 1000 years was passed into the malicious hands of non-Indians.
- Did termination benefit the tribal people in some way?
No, not at all. Termination only brought doom and downfall.
Those people could not find jobs in cities and at the same time had no land left for agriculture. Their means of livelihood was shattered. This was a complete political, economic, and cultural downfall that hustled them into the pits of ruins.
- When did the termination policy finally end?
Finally, in the 1970s, the termination policy was officially annulled by President Richard Nixon. This also took place in Menominee, where Indian tribes of Wisconsin Menominee received their federal sovereignty back.
Also, the supervision and control of the property and embers by tribal affairs was restored.
- What was the exact time period of the termination era?
The main era of termination was between 1945 and 1965. Indian tribes faced relocation from reservations to urban regions.
