History of American Indians- California -

Pre – 1980s

Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo

First European exploring California Claimed California for Spain Changed Californian Indian history

- Indians were portrayed primitive

- Racial superiority was present - Opposition between Indians and the Spanish

Indians: Achomawi, Alliklik, Atsugewi, Baer River Indians, Chilula, Chimaiko, Chumash, Dakubetede, Fernandeno, etc.

Sir Francis Drake

An Englishman claiming California for the English Crown

Indians who were resided here for thousdands of years were rejected completely

Due to the above European diseases devastated the Indian population

1769 and the following years

Spanish founded the first mission with Indian labour (seeing them as expendable reseource)

1769-1800 – California under Spanish control After San Diego mission, Indians attacked the Spanish

camp with no luck Recorded 3 major epidemic break out

- 1777 respiratory epidemic- 1802 diphtheria epidemic- 1806 measles epidemic

Changes in diet and inadequate nutrition also contributed to the decline of the Indians

Positive aspects under negative ones

1824 Constitution granted everyone citizenship

Spanish provided natives with the right to continue occupying their villages

Indians were introduced to farming providing them with the skills to survive

Indians also learned crafts and found employment

California Legislature

Elimination of Indians’ rights to vote Use of Indians as laborers Putting Indians under the custody of Whites for the purpose of

employments and training The right for officials to pick up Indians as vagrants

14th Amendment– No state should infringe on any citizens’ ‘privileges or

immunities’ nor ‘deprive and person of life, liberty or property without due process of law’ nor deny to any person ‘the equal protection of the law’

In the 1880s

People started improving the life of Indians with education, lands, rights, etc.

3 types of educational programs:- Federal Government reservation day school

- Boarding schools

- Local public schools allowing Indians to attend

1901 The first Indian Hospital was established General Allotment Act of 1887 (Dawes Act) tried to

assimilate Indians. Its major role, however, was to break down tribal government.

In the 1900s /ups and downs/

Indian victories in fulfilling treaty conditions Evolution of the powerful Mission Indian Federation Citizenship Act: right to vote, freedom of religion, all

constitutional guarantee Indian Reorganization Act: keeping Indian land in

trust, loans to Indians to attend trade Indians established organizations and governed

them - Native American Church

- National Congress of American Indians

- Federated Indians of California

1960-1980

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) program of relocation started

By 1970 the census showed 91,018 Indians in California

60,000 California Indians received $633 each as compensation for land

1976 California Native American Heritage Commission was established (assisted Indians in preserving cultural and religious sites important to them)

By 1980, the number of Indians in California had grown to more than 201,000, more Indians than in any other state