Unit 2: The Creation of an American Policy

Unit 2: The Creation of an American Policy

Unit 2 Summary

We will look at Indian policy during the Confederation and the first years under the Constitution. You will learn about national sources of authority over Indian affairs — Article 9 of the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution’s Indian commerce, war and treaty clauses — and explore federal adoption and implementation of the factory and treaty systems. In addition, you will be introduced to major figures in the early history of federal Indian policy, including George Washington, Henry Knox, James Madison, Andrew Jackson, Tecumseh and his brother, The Prophet, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas McKenney. Finally, we will consider the creation of a new institutional infrastructure to regulate Indian affairs.

Unit 2 Objectives

By the end of this unit, students should be able to:

• Describe and discuss major Indian policy initiatives during the Confederation and the first years under the Constitution.
• Analyze and explain major historical events that influenced the creation of American Indian policy and the new institutional infrastructure to regulate Indian affairs
• Assess and contribute meaningfully to discussion based upon an understanding of the historical development of federal Indian law and policy during the Confederation and the first years under the Constitution.

Unit 2 Video Requirements- two total

To watch any of the videos, please select the links below. All videos are closed caption.

• Lecture 3: The Creation of an American Policy Part 1 (Links to an external site.)

• Lecture 4: The Creation of an American Policy Part 2 (Links to an external site.)

Unit 2 Required Readings

• In Prucha  read Chapters 1-3  (pp.13-64)
  • e-bookLinks to an external site. — Please read the Prucha chapters after you view the video lectures. 
• Read # 19, pages 22-23  in the Table of Contents, President Jefferson to  William Henry Harrison in Prucha’s book, Documents of United States Indian Policy, 
  • Reference in proper format: Jefferson, Thomas (1803). President Jefferson to William Henry Harrison. In Francis Prucha, Editor (2000). Documents of United States Indian Policy, 3^rd Edition, Document #19, pp. 22-23. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.
  • In-Text Citation (Jefferson, 1803 as cited in Prucha, 2000

Unit 2 RULES

• Must be a minimum of 200 words.
• Essay needs to be substantive and refer to the readings and cases.
• Use in-text citations.
  • Include citations from the readings, video lectures, and cases and/or statutes discussed in this unit.
  • Use the legal format for cases and statutes as well as Executive Orders and the Constitution using in-text citations embedded in the text of your assignment. Citing Sources-Revised_8.31.2020.pdf
• Include a reference list at the end. The reference list should be in alphabetical order. Do not use footnotes.
  •  Use the legal format of cases, statutes, Executive Orders, and the Constitution. 
• Do not use quotes in your post. Instead, paraphrase the quote and cite the source. Use your own words. 

Unit 2 Question/Discussion: The Creation of an American Policy

Would Native peoples have been better off had the federal government not assumed exclusive responsibility for Indian affairs? How might the history we explore this week have been affected by a greater state role?

Support your response with sources for sources from this unit.