The Act for the Government and Protection of Indians (Chapter 133, Cal. Stats., April 22, 1850) was enacted by the first session of the California State Legislature.
The act "facilitated removing California Indians from their traditional lands, separating at least a generation of children and adults from their families, languages, and cultures (1850 to 1865). This California law provided for "apprenticing" or indenturing Indian children and adults to Whites, and also punished "vagrant" Indians by "hiring" them out to the highest bidder at a public auction if the Indian could not provide sufficient bond or bail." It was amended in 1860. Although the California legislature repealed parts of the statute after the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution abolished involuntary servitude, it was not repealed in its entirety until 1937.