The Indian Appropriations Act of 1885

The Indian Appropriations Act and its Significance

The Indian Appropriations Act of 1885 was a pivotal piece of legislation passed by the United States Congress, profoundly impacting the lives of Native American communities. This Act shifted the status of Native Americans to wards of the federal government, formalizing a concept of dependency that would dominate U.S. policy toward Native peoples for decades. The intent of the Act was to manage relationships with various tribes and allocate resources to their welfare, but it also established a framework for federal control over Native American affairs, which often resulted in stripping tribes of their autonomy and rights.

Understanding the Indian Appropriations Act

The 1885 Act represented the U.S. government’s ongoing efforts to assimilate Native Americans into Euro-American culture. By classifying Indians as wards of the government, Congress aimed to control their experiences, resources, and, in many cases, their territories. Funds allocated under the Act were meant to support Native American education, health care, and infrastructure, but the implementation often fell short, leading to underfunding and mismanagement.

The Impact on Native Tribes

For many Native tribes, the Indian Appropriations Act was disastrous. The promise of federal support was often overshadowed by policies that favored land settlements and assimilation, undermining traditional ways of life. The Act contributed to hunger, poverty, and social distress as the reliance on federal oversight increased, and self-sufficiency diminished.

Legislation in the Context of Indian Rights

The passage of the Indian Appropriations Act of 1885 came at a time when many Native Americans were already experiencing significant pressures from westward expansion and settlement. This legislation institutionalized a paradigm that often viewed Native communities through a paternalistic lens, casting tribes as incapable of managing their own affairs.

Legal Ramifications for Native Americans

The Act set a legal precedent for subsequent legislation aimed at Native American issues. Such laws continued to erode tribal sovereignty and land rights, transforming the relationship between Native Americans and the U.S. government into one characterized by legal dependence. The term "wards of the government" implies a lack of rights and justice, a status many tribes would contest for generations.

Long-Term Consequences

The consequences of the 1885 Act are still experienced today, as Native American communities continue to fight for autonomy, recognition, and reparative justice. This Act can be seen as one of many steps in a long history of systematic marginalization of Indigenous peoples in the United States.

Fun Fact

A Unique Legacy of the Act

One interesting aspect of the Indian Appropriations Act is that it prompted the establishment of several Indian schools, aimed at educating Native youth in Euro-American culture. While these schools were intended for assimilation, many Indigenous people have since reclaimed aspects of their cultures that were suppressed.

Additional Resources

Recommended Reading on the Indian Appropriations Act

For a deeper exploration of the impact of the Indian Appropriations Act, consider reading “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” by Dee Brown, which details the interactions between Native tribes and the U.S. government, or “An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States” by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, which offers insight into the broader context of Indigenous rights and history.