Crow Dog's Case: American Indian Sovereignty, Tribal Law, and United States Law in the Nineteenth Century (Studies in North American Indian History) [Paperback]

Sidney L. Harring (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 25, 1994 | ISBN-10: 0521467152 | ISBN-13: 978-0521467155

Crow Dog's Case is the first social history of American Indians' role in the making of American law. The book sheds new light on Native American struggles for sovereignty and justice in nineteenth century America. This "century of dishonor," a time when American Indians' lands were lost and their tribes reduced to reservations, provoked a wide variety of tribal responses. Some of the more successful responses were in the area of law, forcing the newly independent American legal order to create a unique place for Indian tribes in American law.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Regardless of differences in historical interpretation, few will doubt Harring's conclusions. He has shed insights into nineteenth century tribal legal processes, and that alone is a worthy contribution to legal scholarship of nineteenth century Native American history and he accomplished that task by writing an informative, questioning story." Richmond L. Clow, Great Plains Research

"...a trenchant reminder of the absolutely central role that history--for better or worse--plays in the enterprise of Indian Law." Frank Pommersheim, Journal of American History

"...provides a valuable foundation for understanding the complexities of the legal relationship between the federal government and Indian tribes....Harring's work shows what a rich field of study this can be." Raymond J. DeMallie, Indiana Magazine of History

Book Description

The first social history of American Indians' role in the making of American law sheds new light on Native American struggles for sovereignty and justice during the "century of dishonor," a time when their lands were lost and their tribes reduced to reservations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (February 25, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521467152
• ISBN-13: 978-0521467155
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,069,186 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The real story behind the case, April 11, 2002

By 

Sarah Deer "Mvskoke Thinker" (Saint Paul, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crow Dog's Case: American Indian Sovereignty, Tribal Law, and United States Law in the Nineteenth Century (Studies in North American Indian History) (Paperback)

Most people don't realize that until the Congressional response to the Supreme Court case Ex Parte Crow Dog, Indian tribal governments had full jurisdiction over all matters in their territory. In other words, there was no federal intrusion into crimes or civil matters arising on Indian lands. The decision in Crow Dog actually AFFIRMED tribal sovereignty, but because the Lakota jurisprudence of murder cases was so offensive to the white society, Congress passed the Major Crimes Act. Ever since, the federal government has intruded on the sovereignty of indigenous nations on this continent. Other Congressional acts have further eroded tribal sovereignty (such as the Indian Civil Rights Act) but it all started with Crow Dog. This book is a superb historical account of the real people behind the Crow Dog case, and also offers an excellent analysis of the motives behind those who advocated for the passage of the Major Crimes Act. Any true scholar of Federal Indian Law should read this book.