Complexity And Contingency

  select one of the following thesis statements. Your response should be two to three paragraphs in length. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and the Native corporation system have been good for Alaska Natives. OR ANCSA and the Native corporation system have been bad for Alaska Natives. Next, revise the statement you have chosen to reflect the complexity of the historical events surrounding this issue. Provide specific examples of how ANCSA and the Native corporation system have had a positive or negative impact—or perhaps both—on Alaska Natives. Further illustrate the complexity of this issue by showing how the passage of ANCSA was contingent on at least three historical events or forces. In response to your peers, reflect on their revised statement. Describe the ways you find it shows the complexity of the event, and provide a suggestion for how they can further develop the statement or the supporting examples.

Sample Solution

     

Revised Thesis Statement:

The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and the Native corporation system have had a mixed impact on Alaska Natives, with both positive and negative consequences.

Positive Impacts

  • ANCSA provided Alaska Natives with a significant financial settlement, which has helped to improve their economic well-being.
  • ANCSA also granted Alaska Natives title to over 44 million acres of land, which has helped to preserve their culture and way of life.
  • The Native corporation system has created opportunities for Alaska Natives to participate in the state's economy and to develop their own businesses.

Full Answer Section

   

Negative Impacts

  • ANCSA extinguished Alaska Natives' aboriginal land claims, which has led to a loss of control over their traditional lands and resources.
  • The Native corporation system has been criticized for its complexity and for its failure to benefit all Alaska Natives equally.
  • ANCSA has also been blamed for contributing to social problems in Alaska Native communities, such as alcoholism and domestic violence.

Contingent Historical Events

  • The passage of ANCSA was contingent on the passage of the Statehood Act of 1958, which granted Alaska statehood.
  • ANCSA was also contingent on the development of the oil industry in Alaska, which provided the state with the revenue necessary to fund the settlement.
  • Finally, ANCSA was contingent on the Alaska Native land claims movement, which put pressure on Congress to address the issue of Alaska Native land rights.

Conclusion

The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and the Native corporation system have had a mixed impact on Alaska Natives. ANCSA has provided Alaska Natives with a significant financial settlement, title to over 44 million acres of land, and opportunities to participate in the state's economy. However, ANCSA has also extinguished Alaska Natives' aboriginal land claims, contributed to social problems in Alaska Native communities, and been criticized for its complexity and its failure to benefit all Alaska Natives equally.

Reflection on a Peer's Revised Statement

My peer's revised statement, "ANCSA and the Native corporation system have been a double-edged sword for Alaska Natives," effectively shows the complexity of the issue. It highlights both the positive and negative impacts of ANCSA and the Native corporation system, and it acknowledges that there is no easy answer to the question of whether ANCSA has been good or bad for Alaska Natives.

One way that my peer could further develop their statement is to provide more specific examples of the positive and negative impacts of ANCSA and the Native corporation system. For example, they could mention how ANCSA has helped to improve the economic well-being of some Alaska Natives, but also how it has contributed to social problems in other Alaska Native communities.

Overall, my peer's revised statement is a good start to exploring the complex issue of the impact of ANCSA and the Native corporation system on Alaska Natives.

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