Reservation System

Although the reservation system exists to this day, it has a dark history in its original oppression of Native Americans.

The Native American Reservation System Definition

The reservation system in America first developed in the 1800s in response to Westward Expansionism. Essentially, white settlers wanted more land and resources for themselves and so the government forcibly expelled Native Americans from their native land. The government then “gifted” the Native Americans parcels of land out West called reservations where they could continue self-governance but under terrible conditions.

The History of the Reservation System in America

Let's go over the history of the reservation system in America.

The History of the Reservation System in America: The Indian Removal Act

In 1824, the American government created the Office of Indian Affairs (now the Bureau of Indian Affairs) to figure out how to handle the land issue created by Westward expansion. In 1830, the Indian Removal Act “solved” the problem by expelling Native Americans from their rightful land and forcing them to relocate out West. It was the Indian Removal Act that led to the Trail of Tears.

Fig. 1 - map of Trail of Tears routes

The History of the Reservation System in America: The Indian Appropriations Act

The Indian Appropriations Act of 1851 formally created the reservation system with the introduction of reservations in Western territories where Native Americans had been relocated. Although the government allowed tribes to continue self-governance, the land was not their own--hunters did not have much use for farmland--and the government made no consideration of rival tribes when forming the reservations. This led to a poor quality of life for the various tribes. There were high rates of poverty, disease, and malnutrition but low rates of positive and necessary factors like economic development.

Fig. 2 - map of reservation system from 1885

Living within a reservation was not optional. More like a prison, Native Americans had to stay on reservations or face military action. While in these reservations, agents of the Office of Indian Affairs either encouraged or required Native Americans to take on aspects of white culture. There were lessons in English, sewing, caring for livestock and other topics deemed necessary for assimilation.

The History of the Reservation System in America: The Dawes Act

The Meriam Report on the living conditions in these reservations led to calls for change and in 1887, the Dawes Act passed. The Dawes Act ended the reservation system with the new goal of assimilating Native Americans into white society rather than confining them to certain lands. The government reclaimed the lands of reservations and redistributed them to individuals. Any Native American who accepted a plot of land could receive United States citizenship.

Although it might seem as though the Dawes Act would be beneficial to Native Americans, it actually worsened their situation. First of all, Native Americans actually lost up to two-thirds of their land as a result of the Dawes Act and the land they did retain was often not suitable farmland. Additionally, the individualized nature of this new land system did not mesh well with the collective nature of Native American society.

One large negative consequence of the Dawes Act was the creation of missionary schools across the country. These boarding schools claimed to help with the assimilation of Native American children into society, but they were actually hotspots for abuse where teachers attempted to remove any hint of Native American heritage or culture from the children. The children could only speak in English or they would face brutal punishments and classes included the typical subjects but also indoctrination into white culture and ideology.

Fig. 3 - a teacher and her students at the Carlisle Indian School

The History of the Reservation System in America: The Indian Reorganization Act

By the 1930s, missionary schools had fallen out of favor as there were reports of horrific abuse, but very little success in actually assimilating Native American children. It also became clear that, on a broader scale, the Dawes Act did not have the intended effect of helping the situation of Native Americans. The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 brought back the reservation system, this time with financial aid and optional residence, as an attempt to right the government’s wrongs.

The Consequences of the Reservation System

The reservation system still exists today, but not as it did in the 1800s. With the reintroduction of the reservation system in 1934, the goal was to restore Native American culture and land while also offering financial assistance to ensure better conditions. Individual reservations govern themselves and are not subject to most federal legislation.

Unfortunately, those who choose to live in reservations today still face a myriad of issues due to the years of oppression. Poverty remains a major issue and the housing market is oversaturated to the point of crowded conditions and poor standards of living. Residents of reservations also often lack access to proper healthcare and adequate help for the high rates of substance abuse.