General Allotment Act

Definition

The General Allotment Act, also known as the Dawes Act, was enacted in 1887 to promote the assimilation of Native Americans into American society by allotting individual plots of land to Native American families while reducing tribal land ownership. This act aimed to break up tribal communal lands, undermine tribal sovereignty, and encourage individual farming, which significantly affected the social, cultural, and economic structures of Native American communities.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The General Allotment Act led to the loss of over 90 million acres of Native American land by 1934, drastically reducing tribal landholdings.
2. The act aimed to transform Native Americans into independent farmers by giving them individual plots, but it often resulted in poverty and dislocation instead.
3. While some Native Americans received land through allotment, many were unable to farm effectively due to lack of resources or training, leading to economic hardships.
4. The act not only sought to assimilate Native Americans but also opened up their lands for white settlers, contributing to further dispossession of indigenous peoples.
5. The negative impacts of the General Allotment Act prompted a shift in U.S. policy toward Native Americans, culminating in the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, which sought to restore some tribal sovereignty.

Review Questions

• How did the General Allotment Act change the relationship between Native Americans and their land?
  • The General Allotment Act fundamentally altered the relationship between Native Americans and their land by promoting individual ownership over communal tribal lands. This shift aimed to encourage assimilation into Euro-American agricultural practices and diminish tribal sovereignty. However, it led to significant loss of land and disruption of traditional lifestyles as many Native Americans were unprepared for farming or lacked resources. The result was widespread poverty and a drastic reduction in land held by tribes.
• What were some of the consequences of the General Allotment Act on tribal sovereignty and community structures?
  • The consequences of the General Allotment Act on tribal sovereignty were profound; it undermined the collective governance structures that tribes relied on by breaking up their lands into individual allotments. This fragmentation not only diminished communal ties but also weakened the political power of tribes. The emphasis on individual land ownership was meant to integrate Native Americans into mainstream society, but it instead resulted in cultural dislocation and economic challenges, eroding traditional community bonds.
• Evaluate the long-term impacts of the General Allotment Act on contemporary Native American legal rights and land tenure.
  • The long-term impacts of the General Allotment Act continue to resonate today in discussions around Native American legal rights and land tenure. The act's legacy is evident in ongoing issues related to land ownership, as many tribes struggle with fragmented land holdings that complicate governance and economic development. Additionally, it set a precedent for federal policies that restricted tribal sovereignty. Contemporary movements for land restoration and recognition of tribal rights are often rooted in resistance against such historical injustices introduced by acts like the General Allotment Act.

Related terms

Dawes Act: Another name for the General Allotment Act, reflecting its primary sponsor, Senator Henry L. Dawes, which aimed to assimilate Native Americans by allocating individual parcels of land.

Trust Land: Land held in trust by the federal government for the benefit of Native American tribes and individuals, providing certain legal protections against taxation and seizure.

Tribal Sovereignty: The inherent authority of indigenous tribes to govern themselves within the borders of the United States, which has been challenged and limited through various policies including the General Allotment Act.