SOC 225 1st Edition Exam 2 Study Guide Lectures 9 14 Lecture 9 March 3 Introduction to Native Americans How were Native Americans Removed Why were the Europeans expanding so rapidly Who is Andrew Jackson What is the Trail of Tears Assimilation Acts Indian Removal 1820 1860 Native Americans were to vacate lands east of the Mississippi on exchange for more land in the west People were to leave voluntarily This removal was part of building the Nation coinciding with the Louisiana Purchase and western expansion European Expansion market revolution 1812 1860 America began to grow economically transportation systems banks credit system cotton industry etc Growth lead to demand for labor influx of immigrants and slaves The combination of immigration and high birth rates rapid population growth Americans believed that they had the God given destiny to expand its boarders Western expansion was motivated by economic gains frontier land was inexpensive and land lead to income wealth independence self sufficiency and sea ports opened up to trading whaling industry Andrew Jackson President from 1879 1837 2 terms Shared the vision to expand national boundaries Signed Indian Removal Act and used the excuse that the Indians would be able to preserve their culture customs if they were relocated Created treaties to force land away from Native Americans Indian Removal Trail of Tears Choctaw walked 1st 1831 many died They were promised assistance but never got it Outcome many Indians died they had traumatic and tragic experiences and the removal permanently altered their way of life Assimilation Goal to encourage Native Americans to become Europeans become farmers and settle down Assimilation including boarding schools where Indian children were taken from their families and went through physical and mental abuse being forced into white culture The Cherokee embraced assimilation and adapted to European ways but still ended up being forced out of their homes Acts Dawes Allotment Act 1887 broke up tribal system transformed Indians into land owners each family 160 acres 25 years This benefited the US government because they got to sell the remainder of the land Burke Act 1906 nullified the Dawes Act Indian Recognition Act Self government on reservations recognized as crucial part of Indian identity Indians were skeptical Lecture 10 March 5 Pocahontas Who was she what did she do Pocahontas Was the Chief s daughter she was well respected She stopped her tribe from killing John Smith There is suspicious as to why she saved him some think she was in love others think she did it as an act so that John could be adopted into the tribe Remains are still being dug up of the site where John Smith was saved Lecture 11 March 10 Trail Of Tears Who played an important role Key People John Ross He grew up with Cherokee and Whites his mother was part of the of the Bird clan Major Ridge Chief sent optimistic reports back to the government about Cherokee assimilation Andrew Jackson determined to force Indians out of their homes Lecture 12 March 12 Nation of racial inferiority How did the idea of race begin What is the meaning of race today What are stereotypes How race began First started in Britain with English expansion The attitudes of people in Europe toward Irish Blacks and Asians became less favorable as colonialism spread The meaning of race today A social construct a division between groups made to maintain power structures of society Most significant meanings of race are social meanings Ideas of race often reflect prevailing attitudes and public opinions reflecting negative stereotypes Stereotypes Most are totally made up They are learned from authority figures We attach social and cultural meaning to them Lecture 13 March 24 CLASS CANCELLED Lecture 14 March 26 Indian Mascots What is the meaning of a mascot Problems with Indian Mascots Mascots Mascots are a symbol something that stands for something else by reason of relationship or association They hold implicit meanings meanings layered with social cultural connotations including biases that are not all obvious and can be misinterpreted They hold explicit meanings meanings that are obvious and clear cut Problems with Indian Mascots Depicts groups of people race their nationality ethnicity and religion Masks the truth about native culture history and way of life Adds layers of miss information Does not directly benefit the Native Americans does more harm than good Reaffirms power white people more powerful than Native Americans In a way mocks the Native Americans