American History

Since the 1960s, the US Federal government promoted a strong American Indian policy of self-determination. Self-determination is defined as the state of self-autonomy and self-prospectus.

After the Revolutionary War, the federal governments policy towards Indians was stipulated in the Trade and Intercourse Acts. But much of other legal and judicial basis for other policies acted by the government towards Indians had been shown in the three different cases in the Marshall Court. The cases provided basis for Indians right of occupancy, Indian tribes status in the government, and the question of who will manage the Indian affairs.

Governments policy toward Indians had chronological divisions that evolved into the present American Indian policy. Aside from the Trade and Intercourse Acts which kept American Natives secluded from the rest of the American population), other acts were institutionalized, including the Removal Act in 1930, the Dawes Act of 1887, and The Indian Reorganization Act (1934).

The developments in Indian policy have been influenced by two key factors the treaties until 1871 and the policy making favorable for the Indians. The treaties between the government and the Indian tribes were the main avenue for the good relationship of the Native Americans and the Whites. After these treaties have been abolished in 1871, federal policies like the Dawes Act of 1887 and other policies after 1865 were enacted. These federal policies aimed to develop Indian life through integration and assimilation to mainstream American population.

Womens Right Movement
The year 1998 marked the 150th anniversary of the American womens right movement which has been successfully fought for the full rights of women. The movement traced its beginnings from Seneca Falls Convention which discussed the status of American women in the American society. The convention enacted the so-called Declaration of Sentiments. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, recognized as the nominal head of the National womens Party, declared the need for radical transformation of American society. She argued that the spirit of the Declaration of Independence went beyond the confines of race and gender.

Newspapers released issues which condemned the Declaration of Sentiment. Some women who attended the convention withdrew their signatures after the condemnation. Some stood to the partys platform. Undaunted by increasing public criticisms, women activists continued to promote the partys platform.

Gilded-Age Politics
Gilded-Age politics, also known as the Third Party System, was a period of tight competition between the Republicans and Democrats. During this period, state corruption, massive cheating and scams backed up by political machines rocked the political structure  for example, during the Grant administration, political financing secured government contracts for prominent public officials.

Throughout the history of American politics, the Democrats and Republicans enjoyed major votes from different demographic groups in the United States. Black Americans are considered as a solid demographic group which vote for a single political party, with an average of 90 percent. Today, Democrats enjoy the support of African- Americans. In the past, Republicans enjoyed the votes of African-Americans, primarily because of their abolitionist stand. The shift in political preference was due to the following factors  1) conservative stand of the Republican Party in several important issues, 2) indifference of the Republican Party in racial and minority issues.