{"id":355589,"date":"2016-04-04T10:41:54","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:41:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/civilrights\/civil-rights-overview\/civil-rights-and-american-indians-history-and-law.html"},"modified":"2024-10-21T15:11:51","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T20:11:51","slug":"civil-rights-and-american-indians-history-and-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/civilrights\/civil-rights-overview\/civil-rights-and-american-indians-history-and-law.html","title":{"rendered":"Civil Rights and American Indians: History and Law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Civil Rights and American Indians: History and Law<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lark Lewis, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

American Indians have a unique relationship with the U.S. government. This is because American Indians are dual citizens \u2014 they are U.S. citizens and tribal citizens. This relationship creates complex laws about civil rights<\/a> protections.<\/p>\r\n

This article provides summaries of laws and events relevant to the civil rights<\/a> of Native Americans. The article discusses the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Indian Civil Rights Act (ICRA). It addresses the American Indian Movement and the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975. Finally, the article covers the Religious Freedom Act of 1978 and the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978.<\/p>\r\n

Indian Citizenship Act of 1924<\/h2>\r\n

The Indian Citizenship Act<\/a> is the federal legislation responsible for giving citizenship to Native Americans born in the United States. Before the Citizenship Act, the citizenship status for many Native Americans was ambiguous.<\/p>\r\n

Before the Civil War, the U.S. limited Native American citizenship to those with one-half or less Indian blood (ancestry). Ratification of the 14th Amendment, making all those born here U.S. citizens, did not clarify citizenship for Native Americans. Instead, the federal government granted American Indians citizenship under limited circumstances. These circumstances included:<\/p>\r\n