Abstract
In this thesis, I traced the history of the Major Crimes Act of 1885, focusing on United States Supreme Court cases regarding the Act's enforcement and its constitutionality. In particular, analysis focused on how the USSC's decisions affected Native Americans within the field of criminal law, both as defendants and victims, and how these decisions prove to be contradictory or unjustly detrimental in nature. There is also focus on the ongoing issues in the state of Oklahoma resulting from the Major Crimes Act's enforcement that have begun to spread from a state-level crisis into a nationwide problem. The thesis concludes with proposed ideas for how these ongoing issues may be resolved, as well as how the Major Crimes Act may need to be amended or repealed and replaced in order to do so.
Thesis Completion
2023
Semester
Spring
Thesis Chair/Advisor
Milon, Abby
Degree
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
College
College of Community Innovation and Education
Department
Legal Studies
Degree Program
Legal Studies
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Release Date
5-15-2023
Recommended Citation
Garrow, Cameron A., "Protection or Control? – The History & Impact of the Major Crimes Act on Native Americans and Its Future in Criminal Law" (2023). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 1351.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses/1351