A major goal of the American Indian Movement in the 1960s and 1970s was to:

• A. Consolidate the electoral influence of American Indians
• B. Compel termination of tribal status
• C. Advance self-determination of American Indians
• D. Force the federal government to reorganize the reservation system

Answer: (C)

Self-determination and tribal sovereignty are the ideas at the heart of this question. The American Indian Movement championed American Indians’ right to govern themselves, make decisions about their own communities, and control land, resources, and cultural affairs rather than having these things dictated by the federal government or external authorities. In the 1960s and 1970s, AIM worked to bring attention to abuses, poverty, and treaty rights, pushing for autonomy in how tribes were administered and how services were provided. Their actions—from high-profile protests to legal advocacy—were aimed at restoring and protecting the authority of Native nations to decide their own political and social courses, a goal later reinforced by policies and legislation that supported tribal self-governance.

That emphasis on self-determination explains why it’s the best choice. The other options describe aims that aren’t central to AIM’s mission: seeking greater electoral influence isn’t what defined their movement; termination of tribal status would undermine sovereignty, which AIM opposed; and reorganizing the reservation system was not their primary objective, whereas gaining the authority to govern themselves was.