General Allotment Act

Definition

The General Allotment Act, also known as the Dawes Act, was a piece of legislation passed in 1887 aimed at assimilating Native Americans into American society by allotting individual parcels of land to Native families. This act sought to dismantle the communal landholding system of tribes and promote private land ownership, which was believed to facilitate economic independence and encourage the adoption of European-American lifestyles. The act led to significant loss of tribal land and culture, impacting both the reservation system and subsequent allotment policies.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The General Allotment Act resulted in the loss of approximately 90 million acres of tribal land by the early 20th century due to allotments being sold to non-Native settlers.
2. The act aimed to promote individualism among Native Americans, contrasting with the communal living practices traditionally upheld by many tribes.
3. Native Americans were often pressured into accepting allotments, with many being uninformed about the implications, leading to significant cultural disruption.
4. The implementation of the General Allotment Act led to a decline in traditional lifestyles and languages as individuals were encouraged to adopt Euro-American customs.
5. In response to the negative impacts of the act, later legislation aimed to restore some degree of tribal land and rights, although it was limited in scope.

Review Questions

• How did the General Allotment Act reflect the broader policies aimed at assimilating Native Americans into American society?
  • The General Allotment Act was part of a broader set of assimilation policies that sought to integrate Native Americans into Euro-American culture by promoting individual land ownership over communal practices. This legislation was based on the belief that private property would lead to economic independence and social integration. However, it failed to recognize the importance of tribal unity and culture, resulting in widespread loss of land and disruption of traditional ways of life.
• Discuss the impact of the General Allotment Act on the reservation system and Native American land ownership.
  • The General Allotment Act fundamentally altered the reservation system by breaking up communal lands into individual parcels assigned to Native families. This shift not only undermined tribal sovereignty but also facilitated the transfer of large portions of Native land to non-Native settlers as unallotted lands were sold off. The consequences were devastating for many tribes, as they lost significant land holdings and faced challenges in maintaining their cultural identities amidst this forced change.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of the General Allotment Act on Native American communities and their responses to federal policies.
  • The long-term effects of the General Allotment Act were profound, leading to a dramatic reduction in tribal land ownership and significant cultural disruption among Native communities. Many tribes faced socioeconomic hardships as they struggled to adapt to new individualistic practices imposed by federal policies. In response, there was a resurgence in efforts to reclaim tribal rights and sovereignty, resulting in legal battles and policy changes in subsequent decades that sought to restore some lands and recognize tribal governance.

Related terms

Reservation System: A government policy that designated specific areas of land for Native American tribes, often reducing their traditional lands and confining them to smaller territories.

Dawes Act:

The Dawes Act is another name for the General Allotment Act, emphasizing its aim of allotting land to individual Native Americans instead of tribes.

Tribal Sovereignty: The inherent authority of indigenous tribes to govern themselves within the borders of the United States, including managing their own lands and resources.