Episode 286: Elections in Early America: Native Sovereignty

by Liz CovartOctober 20, 2020

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Who is American democracy for and who could participate in early American democracy?

Women and African Americans were often barred from voting in colonial and early republic elections. But what about Native Americans? Could Native Americans participate in early American democracy?

Julie Reed, an Assistant Professor of History at the Pennsylvania State University, and Kathleen DuVal, the Bowman and Gordon Gray Distinguished Term Professor of History at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, join us to investigate how the sovereignty of native nations fits within the sovereignty of the United States and its democracy.

About the Show

Ben Franklin’s World is a podcast about early American history.

It is a show for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our present-day world.

Each episode features a conversation with a historian who helps us shed light on important people and events in early American history.

Ben Franklin’s World is a production of the Omohundro Institute.

Episode Summary

Julie Reed, an Assistant Professor of History at the Pennsylvania State University, and Kathleen DuVal, the Bowman and Gordon Gray Distinguished Term Professor of History at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, join us to investigate how the sovereignty of native nations fits within the sovereignty of the United States and its democracy.

During our investigation of if and how Native Americans could participate in early American democracy, Kathleen and Julie reveal Native American ideas about self-government before, during, and after the American Revolution; How the Cherokee people viewed American democracy and American ideas about Native Americans; And information about the Cherokee Constitution of 1827 and the Cherokee Nation election of 1828.

What You’ll Discover

Native American ideas about self government by the 1770s
Native American views on the American Revolution
The Cherokee and how they received news of the American Revolution
Cherokee society and governance by 1783
Diplomacy between the Cherokee and new United States
Ideas about “civilizing” and “assimilating” Native Americans into American culture
How the Cherokee responded to Americans’ “civilizing” and “assimilation” ideas
Cherokee governance by the early-to-mid 19th century
The Cherokee Constitution of 1827
The Cherokee Constitution of 1827 as a compromise document
Structure of the Cherokee Nation government in 1828
Participation in Cherokee governance
Disenfranchisement of women & Afro-Cherokees
Cherokee Election of 1828
Indian Removal Act of 1830
What happened after the Cherokees moved west
What native sovereignty means for voting in the United States
Thinking about treaties and native sovereignty today