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Full-Text Articles in History
Interior Vs. War: The Development Of The Bureau Of Indian Affairs And The Transfer Debates, 1849–1880., Eric M. White
Interior Vs. War: The Development Of The Bureau Of Indian Affairs And The Transfer Debates, 1849–1880., Eric M. White
Masters Theses, 2010-2019
The creation of what would become the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) predated the Constitution, and the bureau was a part of the Department of War. Congress transferred the BIA to the Department of the Interior when it was established in 1849. Despite the transfer, the Department of War was still involved in the carrying out of Indian policy. The Secretary of War and many within Congress believed the transfer was a mistake due to the Department of the Interior’s apparent failure at curbing Indian violence, failure at providing proper provisions, and seeming failure to carryout the long standing civilization …