Dawes Act

Definition

The Dawes Act, enacted in 1887, was a federal law aimed at assimilating Native Americans into American society by allotting them individual plots of land and granting them U.S. citizenship. This act was intended to break up communal tribal lands into individual ownership, leading to a significant loss of Native American land and culture, while also influencing various aspects of their social and political existence.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Dawes Act resulted in the loss of approximately two-thirds of Native American land between 1887 and 1934 due to allotment and subsequent sales.
2. The act's intention was to integrate Native Americans into mainstream American culture, but it often led to further marginalization and loss of cultural identity.
3. Many Native Americans were unfamiliar with farming and private land ownership, leading to difficulties in adapting to the new system imposed by the Dawes Act.
4. The policy resulted in a significant population decline among Native Americans, as communal living was disrupted and economic hardship followed land loss.
5. The legacy of the Dawes Act continues to affect Native American communities today, as issues related to land ownership and cultural identity remain unresolved.

Review Questions

• How did the Dawes Act represent a shift in U.S. policy towards Native Americans from previous approaches?
  • The Dawes Act marked a significant shift in U.S. policy by moving from a system that emphasized communal living on reservations to one that promoted individual land ownership. Unlike previous policies that maintained tribal sovereignty and collective landholdings, the Dawes Act sought to assimilate Native Americans into American society by encouraging them to adopt agriculture and individualism. This change not only undermined traditional tribal structures but also facilitated extensive land loss for Native communities.
• Evaluate the impact of the Dawes Act on the legal and political status of California Indians during its implementation.
  • The Dawes Act had a profound impact on the legal and political status of California Indians by imposing federal authority over tribal lands and sovereignty. By allotting individual parcels of land, many California tribes lost their collective land rights, diminishing their political autonomy and self-determination. The act created a framework that favored assimilation over recognition of tribal governance, resulting in reduced representation for California Indians in matters affecting their rights and resources.
• Discuss how the Dawes Act contributed to the factors leading to urban migration among Native Americans in California.
  • The Dawes Act significantly contributed to urban migration among Native Americans in California by dismantling traditional economies and social structures based on communal landholding. The resulting loss of land and resources forced many individuals and families to seek employment opportunities in urban areas as agricultural practices became increasingly difficult. Additionally, the pressures of assimilation policies created a disconnect from traditional lifestyles, prompting many California Indians to migrate to cities in search of new identities and economic opportunities amidst changing social landscapes.

Related terms

Allotment: The process of distributing specific parcels of land to individual Native Americans under the Dawes Act, aimed at promoting agriculture and personal ownership.

Assimilation: The process by which Native Americans were encouraged or forced to adopt the cultural norms of white American society, impacting their traditional ways of life.

Indian Reorganization Act: A 1934 law that aimed to reverse some effects of the Dawes Act by restoring some degree of self-governance and communal landholding to Native American tribes.