Western Immigration
Helen Hunt Jackson
Born with the name of Helen Fiske on October 15, 1830, was a writer and poet who became an activists on behalf of improved treatment of Native Americans by the U.S government. She described the affects of governments actions in her history novel she wrote called " A Century of Dishonor ." She also wrote a novel called " Ramona " which dramatized the federal governments mistreatment of Native Americans in southern California after the Mexican-American War and attracted much considerable attention to the cause. It was estimated to be reprinted about 300 times and most readers liked it because it was romantic and picturesque qualities rather then most other novels and books that were all focused on politics. It was also so popular it attracted many people to southern California who wanted to see places from the book. She had a huge effect and let people on a national level grip the understanding a little better of the mistreatment of Native Americans in the new settled west which had been there land for hundreds of years.
Morrill Act
The Morrill Act of 1862 was also known as The Land Grant College Act. It was a major boost to help higher education the United States. It was originally set up too establish instutions in each state that would educate people in agriculture, home economics, mechanical arts and other practices that were common at the time. The act was introduced my a congressman from the state of Vermont by the name of Justin Smith Morrill. He wanted to ensure that education would be available to all social classes no matter what color or how wealthy there were. The first act was passed in 1862 and was signed me Abraham Lincoln and signed on July 2. This gave each states 30,000 acres of public land to each senator and representative. The land was then sold and the money from the sale of the land was to be put in an endowment fund which would provide support for the colleges in each states. The land grant improved the life of millions of americans and greatly benefited to country.
Dawes Act
The Dawes Act of 1887 was also known as the General Allotment Act or the Dawes Severalty Act of 1887. It was adopted by congress in 1887, and was authorized by the president of the United States to survey American Indian tribal land and divide it into allotments for individual Indians. Those who took allotments and lived seperately from the tribe would be granted United States citizenship. The Dawes Act was amended in 1891 and also again in 1906 by the Burke Act. The act was created by a senator from Massachusetts with the name of Henry Lauren Dawes and named after him. The stated objective of the act was too stimulate assimilation Indians into mainstream American society, which the Indians had no interest in doing and wanted to live the way they had before Americans even came to the land which we know as the United States. It would end in much resentment from the tribes but eventually they took the allotment and settled on the reservations provided from the United States government.
Pendelton Act
The Pendelton Act was a civil service reform act of the United States and is a federal law established in 1883 that stipulated that government jobs should be awarded the basis of merit. The act provided selection of government employees competetive exams, rather then ties to political affiliation which had always been the basis in the past since the beginning of the time the United States was created. It also made it illegal to fire or demote government employees for political reasons. The act was passed into law on January 16, 1883 by democratic senator of Ohio, George H. Pendelton. It was written by Dorman Bridgeman Eaton.