Problem: Oregon Indian reservation lands came under attack after World War II. In a sharp reversal of the policies established under Indian Commissioner John Collier during the 1930s, the federal government made aggressive efforts to "get out of the Indian business" early in the war.
The termination was motivated in part by a belief that all people should be treated equally and that tribal citizen had been treated differently - sometimes better, sometimes worse. How do we reconcile special legislation for Indians with notions of equal treatment?
William v. Lee, 358 U.S. 217 (1959)
Tee-Hit-Ton Indians v. U.S., 348 U.S. 272 (1955)