Why Did The Federal Government Introduce The Policy Of Termination For Reservations In 1953? What Were The Argument For And Against Termination? What Impact Did The Policy Have?

There had been a change in government policy towards NAs during Roosevelt’s presidency and his introduction of the New Deal.

However the change was short-lived and in August 1953 the policy of termination was implemented.

In August 1953, Congress endorsed House Concurrent Resolution 108- it is widely regarded as the principal statement of the termination policy:

Many NAs were alarmed about the termination policy.

One Blackfoot tribal chairman pointed out that ‘in our language the only translation for termination is to “wipe out” or “kill off”’

As opposed to Washington who saw it as a chance of freedom and opportunity, one Senator Arthur Watkins of Utah comparing it to the abolition of slavery.