What was the purpose of allotting land to American Indians in this manner?

Question

A
.

to ensure that all members of American Indian tribes benefited equally

B.

to encourage American Indians to move west of the Mississippi River

C.

to create a reservation system to provide land for American Indians

D.

to weaken American Indian culture and force them to assimilate

Answer 1

The purpose of allotting land to American Indians in this manner was primarily:

D. to weaken American Indian culture and force them to assimilate.

This approach, particularly seen in policies like the Dawes Act of 1887, aimed to break up tribal landholdings and promote individual land ownership among American Indians, which was intended to encourage assimilation into Euro-American society and undermine traditional communal living and cultural practices.