Motivated by desires to “civilize” Indians, and gain valuable land for westward expansion, the US government set upon a deliberate path of legislation to make Indians US citizens beginning in earnest with the Dawes Act of 1887. Many people (Indian and non-Indian) saw citizenship as an act of justice to grant the rights and responsibilities available to white and black non-Indians. Others (primarily Indian) saw conferring US citizenship as illegally removing the rights of sovereignty. This path culminated in 1924 with the Indian Citizenship Act.
Wendy Harris
Senior, Individual
Word Count 1200
Senior, Individual
Word Count 1200