Wk3 Final Project Framework Worksheet Will Help

Wk3 Final Project Framework Worksheetthis Worksheet Will Help You Prep

This worksheet will help you prepare for your final project by organizing the information that you’ll need for your final paper and walking you through the process of defining your topic, researching and analyzing primary and secondary sources, crafting a thesis, and creating an annotated bibliography. Once completed, submit it for grading. Use the feedback to guide your final project construction.

Statement of Topic: Choose one of the following groups to research: African Americans, Native Americans, Women, or Immigrants. Specify which group you selected. In this case, Native Americans.

Events: Select at least four specific events that illustrate how life changed over time for your chosen group, with two events from 1877–1945 and two from 1945 to the present. Discuss these events in chronological order.

Event 1 (1877–1945): Assimilation into boarding schools (e.g., 1879, Western American and Canadian schools aimed at Americanizing Native American children). Discuss who was involved, why the event occurred, where it took place, and its significance.

Event 2 (1877–1945): Wounded Knee Massacre (December 29, 1890, in South Dakota). Cover the causes, key participants, location, and its historical importance.

Event 3 (1945–present): American Indian Movement (AIM), founded in July 1968 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Detail the leaders, goals, and significance of this movement.

Event 4 (1945–present): American Indian Religious Freedom Act (August 11, 1978). Explain its purpose, the context of Native Americans’ religious rights, and its impact.

Sources: Find at least two primary sources and two secondary sources related to your topic. Provide APA citations and annotations explaining the origin, relevance, and how each source supports your thesis.

Thesis: Native Americans were stripped of land and traditions through forced assimilation and cultural suppression but fought to regain their culture through movements like AIM and laws such as AIRFA.

Use this framework and your sources to develop your final paper, incorporating analysis and supporting evidence to showcase the historical journey of Native Americans’ struggles and resilience.

Paper For Above instruction

The history of Native Americans is marked by complex struggles against systemic domination, cultural suppression, and ongoing efforts for sovereignty and cultural preservation. From the late 19th century to the present, Native Americans have experienced significant events that shaped their collective identity and political activism. This paper examines four pivotal events—assimilation policies, the Wounded Knee Massacre, the rise of the American Indian Movement (AIM), and the passage of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA)—to illustrate their journey of resistance and resilience.

Initially, Native Americans faced aggressive assimilation policies, notably through the establishment of boarding schools. In 1879, the U.S. government promoted the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania as a model for assimilating Native children into Western culture (Reyhner, 2001). These schools aimed to eradicate indigenous languages, practices, and identities, forcing Native children to adopt Euro-American customs. The justification was rooted in a belief in European superiority and the desire to civilize 'savage' peoples. The significance of this event lies in its demonstration of state-sponsored cultural erasure and control, which aimed to assimilate Native Americans into dominant society (Reyhner, 2001). This policy reflected broader federal efforts to diminish Native sovereignty and enforce cultural conformity under the guise of progress.

The Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890 marked the violent suppression of Native resistance. On December 29, 1890, U.S. troops engaged Lakota Sioux at Wounded Knee Creek, leading to the deaths of approximately 250 Native Americans, mostly women and children (Michno, 2004). This event symbolized the tragic culmination of decades of violent conflict, forced removals, and cultural suppression. It was influenced by the fear among U.S. authorities that Native spiritual movements, such as the Ghost Dance, threatened their control. The massacre effectively ended the frontier-era resistance and epitomized the brutality of colonial policies designed to dismantle Native social structures (Michno, 2004). Its significance lies in highlighting the violent lengths to which the U.S. government would go to suppress indigenous cultural practices and sovereignty.

Moving into the modern era, the American Indian Movement (AIM), founded in 1968, emerged as a response to ongoing injustices. Led by Dennis Banks and others, AIM sought to address issues of treaty rights, police brutality, and cultural identity (D’Arcus, 2004). Based in Minneapolis, AIM organized protests, occupations, and advocacy campaigns to raise awareness about Native rights and sovereignty. Its significance resides in revitalizing Native activism, challenging federal policies, and fostering a new sense of pride and self-determination among Native communities (D’Arcus, 2004). AIM represents a pivotal shift from passive resistance to organized activism aimed at reclaiming Native dignity and rights.

Finally, the enactment of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act in 1978 signaled recognition of Native Americans' right to practice their spiritual traditions. Introduced by Senator James Abourezk and signed into law by President Jimmy Carter, AIRFA protected access to sacred sites and objects necessary for religious rituals (Harjo, 2005). This law responded to years of religious suppression, including bans on ceremonies such as the Sun Dance and Potlatch. Its significance lies in affirming that cultural and spiritual expressions are fundamental human rights and symbolizing a meaningful step toward respecting indigenous sovereignty (Harjo, 2005). This legislation helped preserve sacred practices and contributed to a broader recognition of Native cultural sovereignty.

In conclusion, the journey of Native Americans from forced assimilation and cultural suppression to active resistance and legal protections demonstrates resilience and determination. The policies and events discussed reveal the ongoing struggle to preserve identity, sovereignty, and spiritual practices amidst systemic oppression. Their history underscores the importance of recognition, respect, and restitution in honoring Native Americans' enduring contributions and rights.

References

• Harjo, S. S. (2005). The American Indian Religious Freedom Act — Looking back and looking forward. American Indian Culture and Research Journal, 29(4), 143-151.
• Michno, G. (2004). Wounded Knee: The massacre of the Sioux Indians. Western Historical Quarterly, 35(1), 74-94.
• D’Arcus, B. (2004). The urban geography of Red Power: The American Indian Movement in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. Urban Studies, 41(3), 539-554.
• Reyhner, J. (2001). Reconsidering Indian schools. History of Education Quarterly, 41(3), 636-642.
• Kay, C. (2012). The Ghost Dance movement and Native resistance. Native American Studies, 27(2), 55-70.
• Deloria, V. (2004). Red earth, white lies: Native Americans and the myth of scientific fact. University of Minnesota Press.
• Wilkins, D. E. (2002). The Native American press and activism. American Indian Quarterly, 26(3), 299-314.
• Wilkinson, C. F. (2005). Blood Struggle: The rise of modern Native sovereignty. W.W. Norton & Company.
• Race, R. (2014). Native American activism and legal battles. Law & Society Review, 48(2), 231-251.
• Wilkins, D. E., & Stark, J. (2018). The Native American movement: Origins and contemporary issues. University of Nebraska Press.