It is said that World War II was a social turning point in history for Native Americans. At the breakout of World War II, Native Americans had an astounding response. In 1942, more than forty percent of Native Americans had registered to serve in the military, rather than being drafted. Even those who could not serve did their part by working off reservation, sometimes moving off reservation, to help with the war effort by working in industry, such as working in factories producing weaponry. During World War II, a time of national emergency, Native Americans served in the military with White Americans, and Native Americans worked in factories with White Americans. This social collaboration is what is believed to be the beginning of a turning point for Native Americans.
|
Tensions between Native Americans and White Americans had existed ever since Christopher Columbus arrived in the America's in 1492 . As the British American Colony, eventually becoming the United States of America, began expanding its borders, its settlers entered lands that had been the homelands of Native Americans for thousands of years. There were soon small skirmishes, which eventually lead to complete warfare. Overtime, the White Americans began forcing the Native Americans out of their homelands, and forced them into reservations, plots of land reserved for the Native American peoples, but in locations chosen by White Americans. It was this separation and segregation between White Americans and Native Americans that lead to the social inequality of the Native Americans throughout United States History.
At the end of the war, many natives decided to leave their reservations, and attempt to assimilate into the rest of the United States. Many had done this, because they had seen their first glimpse into the rest of American society. For the Native American's, there was both great appeal and some repulsiveness to assimilating into the rest of American society. The Native Americans found that mainstream America offered greater job opportunities, healthcare, education, and an overall greater standard of living. On the other hand, by leaving reservations, they left behind culture, and the security of the reservation community.
|