The Civilization Fund Act was an Act passed by the United States Congress on March 3, 1819. The Act encouraged activities of benevolent societies in providing education for Native Americans and authorized an annuity to stimulate the "civilization process".[1]Thomas L. McKenney lobbied Congress in support of the legislation. It was originally intended to support schools in native villages and areas, such as those established by religious missions. These were operated by both Protestant and Catholic organizations. In 1891 through the early 20th century, the government used the Civilization Fund Act as authority to establish numerous Native American boarding schools.
Civilization Fund Act
Long title
An Act making provision for the civilization of the Indian tribes adjoining the frontier settlements.
Signed into law by President James Monroe on March 3, 1819
The benevolent societies were a combination of Christian missions and the federal government.
Federal funds were allocated to schools designed to educate Native Americans in the English language and ways of Anglo-Americans. The goal was to "civilize" Native Americans by teaching them reading and writing in the missionary schools. Later in the century, there was more emphasis on forcing them to give up native religions, culture and languages.[2]
The passage of the Act resulted in development of a new class structure within Native American societies. While often traditional Native Americans opposed the schools, "progressive" ones, including senior leaders, accepted the schools, believing they were a way for their people to learn to negotiate with the increasing number of European Americans they encountered. Some of these young men with education and command of the English language rose to leadership positions within tribes, as in the American Southeast. According to historian William Jeynes, they were influenced to agree to treaties that ceded communal lands to the United States government.[3] Within the tribal communities, some leaders believed that, given the increasing number of American settlers entering their territories, the tribes were going to be forced to cede their lands, and they were trying to gain the best deals for their people.
"That for the purpose of guarding against the further decline and final extinction of the Indian tribes, adjoining the frontier settlements of the United States, are for introducing among them the habits and arts of civilization" annual sum/annuity is ten thousand dollars "and an account of the expenditure of the money, and proceedings in execution of the foregoing provisions, shall be laid annually before Congress."[4]
The Bureau of Indian Affairs was created in 1824 by the federal government and placed under the War Department. This part of government had more facilities and personnel in the frontier areas where most Native Americans were living, and new responsibilities could be assigned to its staff. In some cases, the military supervised trading posts authorized by the government, which were another point of contact with Native American bands. The Bureau was created in order to administer the annuity given to the schools.[5]
^ Hamilton, Robert. "United States and Native American Relations". Florida Gulf Coast University. Retrieved August 19, 2008.
^Levy, Yolanda H. "Deculturalization and Schooling of Native Americans", Retrieved on September 9, 2009
^Jeynes, William. American Educational History: school, society, and the common good (2007), Retrieved September 9, 2009
^Prucha, Francis Paul (2000). "Documents of United States Indian Policy", p.33. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data, United States of America. ISBN0-8032-8762-3
^Digital History Online Textbook. "The Missionary Impulse" February 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, "Native American Voices", September 9, 2009. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
Further readingEdit
Ellinghaus, Katherine. Taking Assimilation to Heart: Marriages of White Women and Indigenous Men in the United States and Australia, 1887-1937ISBN0-8032-1829-X, 9780803218291, 2006.
civilization, fund, passed, united, states, congress, march, 1819, encouraged, activities, benevolent, societies, providing, education, native, americans, authorized, annuity, stimulate, civilization, process, thomas, mckenney, lobbied, congress, support, legi. The Civilization Fund Act was an Act passed by the United States Congress on March 3 1819 The Act encouraged activities of benevolent societies in providing education for Native Americans and authorized an annuity to stimulate the civilization process 1 Thomas L McKenney lobbied Congress in support of the legislation It was originally intended to support schools in native villages and areas such as those established by religious missions These were operated by both Protestant and Catholic organizations In 1891 through the early 20th century the government used the Civilization Fund Act as authority to establish numerous Native American boarding schools Civilization Fund ActLong titleAn Act making provision for the civilization of the Indian tribes adjoining the frontier settlements NicknamesCivilization Fund Act of 1819Enacted bythe 15th United States CongressEffectiveMarch 3 1819CitationsPublic lawPub L 15 85Statutes at Large3 Stat 516b Chap 85Legislative historySigned into law by President James Monroe on March 3 1819The benevolent societies were a combination of Christian missions and the federal government Federal funds were allocated to schools designed to educate Native Americans in the English language and ways of Anglo Americans The goal was to civilize Native Americans by teaching them reading and writing in the missionary schools Later in the century there was more emphasis on forcing them to give up native religions culture and languages 2 The passage of the Act resulted in development of a new class structure within Native American societies While often traditional Native Americans opposed the schools progressive ones including senior leaders accepted the schools believing they were a way for their people to learn to negotiate with the increasing number of European Americans they encountered Some of these young men with education and command of the English language rose to leadership positions within tribes as in the American Southeast According to historian William Jeynes they were influenced to agree to treaties that ceded communal lands to the United States government 3 Within the tribal communities some leaders believed that given the increasing number of American settlers entering their territories the tribes were going to be forced to cede their lands and they were trying to gain the best deals for their people That for the purpose of guarding against the further decline and final extinction of the Indian tribes adjoining the frontier settlements of the United States are for introducing among them the habits and arts of civilization annual sum annuity is ten thousand dollars and an account of the expenditure of the money and proceedings in execution of the foregoing provisions shall be laid annually before Congress 4 The Bureau of Indian Affairs was created in 1824 by the federal government and placed under the War Department This part of government had more facilities and personnel in the frontier areas where most Native Americans were living and new responsibilities could be assigned to its staff In some cases the military supervised trading posts authorized by the government which were another point of contact with Native American bands The Bureau was created in order to administer the annuity given to the schools 5 Contents 1 See also 2 Notes 3 Further reading 4 External linksSee also EditFive Civilized TribesNotes Edit Hamilton Robert United States and Native American Relations Florida Gulf Coast University Retrieved August 19 2008 Levy Yolanda H Deculturalization and Schooling of Native Americans Retrieved on September 9 2009 Jeynes William American Educational History school society and the common good 2007 Retrieved September 9 2009 Prucha Francis Paul 2000 Documents of United States Indian Policy p 33 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data United States of America ISBN 0 8032 8762 3 Digital History Online Textbook The Missionary Impulse Archived February 13 2009 at the Wayback Machine Native American Voices September 9 2009 Retrieved September 9 2009 Further reading EditEllinghaus Katherine Taking Assimilation to Heart Marriages of White Women and Indigenous Men in the United States and Australia 1887 1937 ISBN 0 8032 1829 X 9780803218291 2006 Hale Lorraine Native American Education A Reference Handbook ISBN 1 57607 363 7 ISBN 978 1 57607 363 6 2002 External links EditCultural Crisis in Education United States and Native American Relations Indian Education Answers com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Civilization Fund Act amp oldid 1137622669, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
