Speech Theses and Dissertations

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Browsing Speech Theses and Dissertations by Author "Harwood, Glenn R."

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    THE MOVEMENT FOR ASSIMILATION: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE RHETORIC OF CARL SCHURZ
    (University of Oregon, 1979-08) Harwood, Glenn R.
    The purpose of this research has been to analyze the rhetoric of Carl Schurz, Secretary of the Interior from 1877 to 1881, as it applied to the advocacy of a federal policy of assimilation of American Indians. Schurz led an organized, institutionalized and collective effort to modify federal Indian policy within the Department of Interior. Schurz used persuasive strategies--strategies analogous to the descriptions of Ralph R. Smith and Russel R. Windes-to convince Congress to accept the innovation of general allotment. The allotment system or the severalty plan ¼Ould change federal Indian policy from concentration and reservation to the innovation of assimilation. The policy of severalty called for allotment of Indian lands in fee simple to individual Indians who would be granted patents for specified sections of land.