1. Using the 5 key turning points, how successful were the Americans in
‘americanising’ the Native Americans in the first half of the twentieth century?
Five key turning points from the period of 1900 to 1945 were believed to have
‘americanised’ the indigenous Native Americans, these of which were the First
world war, the Meriam Report, the New Deal, Second World war and the Indian
Citizenship. The least of all ethnic groups in making progress were the Native
Americans. To some extent the Native Americans made progress
Firstly, the first world war played a part in the progression of Native Americans as
they gained recognition as a people for the 10,000 who fought for America against
the Germans. They integrated with white Americans unlike African American’s, from
this it can even be argued they had come further to achieving equal rights then the
blacks. Indian Women were given jobs in factories in the war and thus provided
them with an income, the government believed the experience of war had a
‘civilising influence ‘ on the Native Americans and therefore was in favour of
integration. The first world war is a good example to use when justifying that the
Native Americans were successfully ‘Americanised’.
The Meriam Report however was not as influential in ‘Americanising ‘ Native
Americans, instead rather increasing tension between the American people and the
tribes. The report provided dreadful conditions of reservations for Native
Americans that in turn destroyed families and communities and only after 40 years
after its implementation was the report first criticised. The vast length is evidence
that it was only a minority that took interest in the affects the report had on Native
Americans and therefore argues that they were not ‘Americanised ‘ in the first half
of the twentieth century. In contrast to the first world war, the Meriam report shows
that there was limited success in the Native American ‘Americanisation ‘.
Moving on, the New Deal was brought in by the head of Native Americans
John Collier, who created the Wheeler-Howard Act in 1934, which improved
the lives of the Natives significantly, and gave them some rights such as
education and access to hospitals. Also, funding was made available, though it
was used on buying back some of the land in which the government took in
the 19th century. Although the lives of the Native Americans were improved, it
could be argued that in only made them more independent and therefore it
failed to ‘Americanise’ them.
Citizenship, the fifth turning point was ‘forced upon’ Native Americans.
However many Indians did not want Citizenship but rather their own
sovereignty and nationhood instead of going along with this ‘Americanisation
‘. Some states stopped Indians from voting , this is a fundamental factor to
equal rights with an ethnic group, without the right to vote will not allow any
Indian to achieve full American citizenship. Similar to the effect of the Meriam

2. report this also gives evidence that there was limited success in the
‘Americanisation ‘ of the Native Americans.
Furthermore, another key turning point is another war, World War two. In this
war, a mass 100,000 Native Americans served the US in the War, 25000 went to
fight alongside Americans, and 75000 moved to urban areas to work in defense
industry. However the ones who stayed at the reservations struggled, as there
was a lack of food supplies. This led to the Japanese Americans were sent to
reservations as well as the Native Americans and therefore supplies had to be
shared. Although the Native Americans were sent to war with the white
Americans, they were sent back to reservations due to discrimination. Therefore,
because of this it could be argued that the World War two failed to ‘Americanise’
the Native Americans as they were still being treated unfairly and thus were not
full American citizens.