Federal Indian Boarding Schools and Assimilation Campaigns (1879–1934)

1. Carlisle Indian Industrial School formally opens

   Nov 1, 1879Labels: Carlisle Indian, Richard Henry

   • NPS Carlisle
   • Carlisle Wiki

2. Chemawa Indian School begins operation in Oregon

   Jan 1, 1880Labels: Chemawa Indian, Oregon

   • BIE ORRS

3. Albuquerque Indian School established

   Jan 1, 1881Labels: Albuquerque Indian, Bureau of

   • Albuquerque School

4. Dawes Act authorizes allotment and “surplus” land sales

   Feb 8, 1887Labels: Dawes Act, Allotment policy

   • Nat Archives
   • Britannica

5. Congress expands compulsory school attendance enforcement

   Jan 1, 1891Labels: Congressional policy, Compulsory schooling

   • UNL Plains

6. Phoenix Indian School opens in Arizona

   Jan 1, 1891Labels: Phoenix Indian, Arizona

   • Phoenix School
   • Archaeology

7. Perris Indian School established (later Sherman Institute)

   Jan 1, 1892Labels: Perris Indian, Sherman Institute

   • Sherman HS

8. Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School opens

   Jan 3, 1893Labels: Mount Pleasant, Congressional funding

   • Mount Pleasant

9. Rapid City Indian School opens

   Jan 1, 1898Labels: Rapid City, South Dakota

   • Rapid City

10. Burke Act accelerates loss of allotted lands

    May 8, 1906Labels: Burke Act, Allotment amendment

    • Yale Docs
    • Dawes Act

11. Society of American Indians forms as pan-Indian reform organization

    Jan 1, 1911Labels: Society of, Pan-Indian movement

    • Nat Archives
    • SAI Wiki

12. Carlisle Indian Industrial School closes

    Sep 1, 1918Labels: Carlisle Indian, World War

    • NPS Procl
    • Carlisle Wiki

13. Indian Citizenship Act grants U.S. citizenship to Native Americans

    Jun 2, 1924Labels: Indian Citizenship, U S

    • Immig Hist
    • ICA Wiki

14. Meriam Report submitted to Interior Department

    Feb 21, 1928Labels: Meriam Report, Lewis Meriam

    • Meriam Wiki
    • Brookings

15. Johnson–O'Malley Act funds state-provided Indian services

    Apr 16, 1934Labels: Johnson O'Malley, Secretary of

    • JOM Wiki

16. Indian Reorganization Act repudiates allotment-era policy

    Jun 18, 1934Labels: Indian Reorganization, Wheeler Howard

    • Britannica
    • BIA FAQ