Dawes Act

Definition

The Dawes Act, enacted in 1887, aimed to assimilate Native Americans into American society by allotting individual plots of land to tribal members and breaking up communal tribal land. This act marked a significant shift in U.S. policy towards Native Americans, prioritizing land ownership and farming over traditional communal living and cultural practices.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Dawes Act resulted in the loss of over 90 million acres of tribal land, as excess land was sold to non-Native settlers and speculators.
2. The act aimed to promote individualism among Native Americans by encouraging farming and land ownership, but it often disrupted traditional ways of life.
3. Many Native Americans received poor-quality land that was unsuitable for agriculture, leading to further economic struggles.
4. The Dawes Act is seen as a failure in terms of its intended goals, as it did not successfully assimilate Native Americans or improve their living conditions.
5. The act led to a significant increase in the number of boarding schools for Native American children, as the government sought to further enforce assimilation.

Review Questions

• How did the Dawes Act change the relationship between the U.S. government and Native American tribes?
  • The Dawes Act fundamentally altered the relationship between the U.S. government and Native American tribes by shifting from recognizing tribal sovereignty and communal land ownership to promoting individual land ownership. By allotting parcels of land to individuals within tribes, the act aimed to break down communal ties and encourage assimilation into Euro-American culture. This change represented a significant departure from previous treaties that respected tribal land rights and autonomy.
• Evaluate the impact of the Dawes Act on Native American culture and identity during the late 19th century.
  • The impact of the Dawes Act on Native American culture and identity was profound, as it attempted to dismantle traditional communal lifestyles in favor of individualism and farming. Many tribes faced challenges as they were forced to abandon their cultural practices tied to communal land use, leading to disconnection from their heritage. The act not only led to significant loss of land but also contributed to economic hardships that further eroded cultural identity during this period.
• Analyze the long-term consequences of the Dawes Act on contemporary issues related to Native American rights and land disputes.
  • The long-term consequences of the Dawes Act can be seen today in ongoing issues regarding Native American rights, sovereignty, and land disputes. The historical loss of land due to allotment has led to lasting economic challenges for many tribes, complicating their ability to assert claims over ancestral lands. Additionally, the assimilation policies initiated by the Dawes Act have had lasting effects on cultural identity, leading many communities to actively work toward reclaiming their heritage while navigating legal battles over land rights and water resources in a modern context.

Related terms

Allotment: A system under the Dawes Act that divided tribal lands into individual plots for Native Americans, aiming to promote private land ownership and farming.

Assimilation: The process through which Native Americans were encouraged or forced to adopt European-American culture, customs, and practices, often at the expense of their own cultural identity.

Reservation: Areas of land designated by the U.S. government for Native American tribes, where they were often confined as part of federal Indian policy.