Question

Using complete sentences, define the Dawes Act. Explain the goals and implementation of the act in your answer.

Answer 1

The Dawes Act, officially known as the General Allotment Act of 1887, was a U.S. law aimed at assimilating Native Americans into American society by allotting them individual plots of land. The primary goal of the Dawes Act was to promote the concept of private property among Native Americans by breaking up communal tribal lands into smaller parcels that could be individually owned. Each eligible Native American would receive a specific number of acres, and any unallotted land would be sold to non-Native settlers.

The implementation of the Dawes Act involved surveying tribal lands and dividing them into allotments, which typically ranged from 40 to 160 acres depending on the individual's status. Native Americans were granted U.S. citizenship and the right to own the land outright after a 25-year trust period, during which the federal government held the title. However, the act was met with various challenges, including resistance from Native communities and the overarching pressures of colonization and cultural assimilation. Ultimately, the Dawes Act led to the significant loss of tribal lands and contributed to the erosion of Native American cultural practices and communal living.