answersLogoWhite

0

In the late 18th century, reformers starting with George Washington and Henry Knox, supported educating native children and adults, in efforts to civilize them. The Civilization Fund Act of 1819 promoted this civilization policy by providing funding to societies (mostly religious) who worked on Native American improvement.

In 1857, Chief Justice Roger B. Taney expressed that since Native Americans were "free and independent people" that they could become U.S. citizens. On June 2, 1924 U.S. Republican President Calvin Coolidge signed the Indian Citizenship Act making all Native Americans, who were not already citizens, born in the United States and its territories citizens of the United States.

Prior to the passage of the act, nearly two-thirds of Native Americans were already U.S. citizens. The earliest recorded date of Native Americans' becoming U.S. citizens was in 1831 when the Mississippi Choctaw became citizens after the United States Legislature ratified the 19831 Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek.

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

What else can I help you with?