Table of Contents
Is Native American land part of the US?
Yes. As U.S. citizens, American Indians and Alaska Natives are generally subject to federal, state, and local laws. On federal Indian reservations, however, only federal and tribal laws apply to members of the tribe, unless Congress provides otherwise.
What act established the current relationship between Native American tribes and the US government?
The current relationship between the U.S. government and Native American tribes was established by the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975.
What is the relationship between Native American reservations and the US government?
In general, Native Americans are sovereign within their territory. Tribal governments manage their own affairs with respect to their members, but lack authority over nontribal members. In 1987, the Supreme Court determined that states cannot regulate Native American gaming enterprises.
Are there any Native American conflicts over land?
Conflicts over the use and ownership of Native lands are not new. Land has been at the center of virtually every significant interaction between Natives and non-Natives since the earliest days of European contact with the indigenous peoples of North America.
How did the US government acquire Native American lands?
The new United States government was thus free to acquire Native American lands by treaty or force. Resistance from the tribes stopped the encroachment of settlers, at least for a while.
How did the US encroach on Native American lands?
The expansion of the United States that encroached upon Native American lands occurred faster than many policymakers had predicted, with events such as the Mexican-American War in 1848 placing new territories and tribes under federal jurisdiction.
Why was the Native American vulnerable during the colonial era?
Native Americans were also vulnerable during the colonial era because they had never been exposed to European diseases, like smallpox, so they didn’t have any immunity to the disease, as some Europeans did.