Sacred Lands and the challenge of resurgence: 20th-century Native American history

In this course, we will examine the resurgence of Native Americans in the USA from the New Deal forward. From a population nadir in the early 20th century, native people began a long and difficult rebirth as they began to wrestle self-determination away from the federal government. By studying the challenges, both legal and non-legal, faced by Native Americans in relation to the standards of white America, we can uncover the legal, social, and artistic developments that occurred during this period of rebirth.

Course details

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Start Date

2 Aug 2026

Duration

5 Sessions over one week

End Date

8 Aug 2026

Application Deadline

28 Jun 2026

Location

International Summer Programme

Code

W45Am25

Tutors

Dr Ian Chambers

Part-time tutor in History, University of Cambridge Professional and Continuing Education (PACE)

Aims

This course aims to:

provide knowledge of twentieth-century Native American History
understand the shifting approaches of Native Americans in their ability to reclaim and expand their self-governance
understanding the shifting approaches of the American Government to Native Americans

Course content

We will begin with an overview of the status of Native Americans in the USA before the New Deal, looking at actions such as the imposition of reservations, and policies such as the Dawes Act of 1889, which stripped land and self-governance from Native peoples during the late nineteenth century.

The class will then look briefly at Native Americans’ role in World War I before moving on to the era of the New Deal, specifically looking at the Indian Reorganisation Act of 1934 (IRA), also known as the Wheeler-Howard Act, in effect a Native New Deal. This act led to increased tribal sovereignty, the preservation of Native American culture, and economic development.

We will then transition to the era around WWII, looking at Native American involvement in the war, particularly the Navajo Code Talkers and also at the sense of cohesion and determination felt by the returning native veterans. These veterans began a new stage of Native self-awareness that eventually would lead to the Red Power Movement.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Native Americans launched their own period of radical actions, as was seen in other civil rights movements. Actions such as the reclaiming of Alcatraz Island, the Trail of Broken Treaties and the takeover of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, raised the visibility of Native people and put their claim more forcefully in front of mainstream America

We will finish the course with an examination of Native American art over the same period. Artists followed the political changes, and these changes are reflected in their work

What to expect on this course

The course will be taught by PowerPoint presentation, including a wide range of audio-visual sources with time for discussion and debate.

Course sessions

Before the 20th century, the challenge to Native control
The New Deal and the Indian Recovery Act
WWII and the Code Talkers, the Indian Termination Act of 1953
Red Power, the American Indian Movement, and Wounded Knee II
Native American Art and culture respond

Learning outcomes

As a result of the course, you will gain a greater understanding of the subject and you should be able to:

gain an understanding of Native Americans during the twentieth century
understand the challenges mainstream America created for Native America
understand and appreciate the advances made by Native Americans during the twentieth century

Required reading

There is no required pre-reading for this course