American Indians and World War II : Toward a New Era in Indian Affairs

The impact of World War II on Indian affairs was more profound and lasting than that of any other event or policy--including Roosevelt’s Indian New Deal and efforts to terminate federal responsibility for tribes under Eisenhower. Focusing on the period from 1941 to 1947, Alison R. Bernstein explains why termination and tribal self-determination were logical results of the Indians’ World War II experiences in battle and on the home front. Details The Impact Of World War Ii On American Indian Life, Arguing That The War Had A More Profound And Lasting Effect On The Course Of Indian Affairs In The Twentieth Century Than Any Other Single Event Or Period, And Assessing Its Consequences For American Indians And Whites. Indian Affairs On The Eve Of The War -- Indians And The Draft -- The Chiefs Go To War -- The Indian Home Front. A Study In Changes -- The Bia Under Altack: An Agency In Search Of A Function -- Indians Enter The Political Mainstream -- Postwar Uncertainties: The Warriors And War Workers Return -- The War's Aftermath: Turning American Indians Into Indian Americans. By Alison R. Bernstein. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 225-237) And Index. World War II was the first war in which all American Indians were citizens and thus eligible for the draft. Participation in the military and in war industries ensured a steady job, status and a taste of the white world. This book examines the profound impact of the war on Indian affairs Surveys the experiences of American Indians during World War II, and examines the War's short and long term impact on Indian affairs