The Civilization Fund Act of 1819
Encyclopedia
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". Thomas L. McKenney
lobbied the Congress in support of the legislation. The Civilization Fund Act led to the formation of numerous Native American boarding schools
towards the end of the 19th century.
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 ways of the white man. The goal was to "civilize" Native Americans by getting rid of their traditions and customs and teaching them reading and writing in the missionary schools.
The passage of the Act helped define a class structure
within Native American society. While traditional Native Americans
opposed the schools, "progressive" ones accepted the schools. Their education and command of the English language propelled them to leadership positions within tribes and ultimately led to policy shifts and treaties that ceded land to the United States government.
"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."
The Bureau of Indian Affairs
was created in 1824 by the federal government and placed into the War Department
. It was created in order to administer the annuity
given to the schools.
Act of Congress
An Act of Congress is a statute enacted by government with a legislature named "Congress," such as the United States Congress or the Congress of the Philippines....
passed by the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
on March 3, 1819. The Act encouraged activities of benevolent societies in providing education for Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
and authorized an annuity
Annuity (US financial products)
In the United States an annuity contract is created when an insured party, usually an individual, pays a life insurance company a single premium that will later be distributed back to the insured party over time...
to stimulate the "civilization process". Thomas L. McKenney
Thomas L. McKenney
Thomas Loraine McKenney was a United States official who served as Superintendent of Indian Trade from 1816–1822....
lobbied the Congress in support of the legislation. The Civilization Fund Act led to the formation of numerous Native American boarding schools
Native American boarding schools
An Indian boarding school refers to one of many schools that were established in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to educate Native American children and youths according to Euro-American standards...
towards the end of the 19th century.
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 ways of the white man. The goal was to "civilize" Native Americans by getting rid of their traditions and customs and teaching them reading and writing in the missionary schools.
The passage of the Act helped define a class structure
Social class
Social classes are economic or cultural arrangements of groups in society. Class is an essential object of analysis for sociologists, political scientists, economists, anthropologists and social historians. In the social sciences, social class is often discussed in terms of 'social stratification'...
within Native American society. While traditional Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
opposed the schools, "progressive" ones accepted the schools. Their education and command of the English language propelled them to leadership positions within tribes and ultimately led to policy shifts and treaties that ceded land to the United States government.
"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."
The Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the US Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of of land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans in the United States, Native American...
was created in 1824 by the federal government and placed into the War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
. It was created in order to administer the annuity
Annuity (US financial products)
In the United States an annuity contract is created when an insured party, usually an individual, pays a life insurance company a single premium that will later be distributed back to the insured party over time...
given to the schools.
Further reading
- Ellinghaus, Katherine. "Taking Assimilation to Heart: Marriages of White Women and Indigenous Men in the United States and Australia, 1887-1937" also there were fights about it, ISBN 0-8032-1829-X, 9780803218291, 2006.
- Hale, Lorraine. "Native American Education: A Reference Handbook", ISBN 1-57607-363-7, 9781576073636, 2002.