Dawes Act

Definition

The Dawes Act, enacted in 1887, aimed to assimilate Native Americans into American society by allotting individual plots of land to families and granting them U.S. citizenship. This policy sought to transform tribal land ownership into private ownership, which fundamentally changed the communal nature of Native American land use and aimed to eradicate traditional practices.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Dawes Act was part of a broader U.S. government policy aimed at assimilating Native Americans and reducing their landholdings.
2. Under the Dawes Act, each Native American family was allotted up to 160 acres of land, while the surplus was sold to non-Native settlers.
3. The act resulted in a significant loss of tribal land, with estimates suggesting that Native Americans lost about two-thirds of their territory between 1887 and 1934.
4. While the Dawes Act aimed to promote agriculture among Native Americans, many were not familiar with farming practices and faced numerous challenges.
5. The negative impacts of the Dawes Act contributed to ongoing resistance against assimilation policies and sparked movements advocating for Native rights.

Review Questions

• How did the Dawes Act transform land ownership for Native Americans and what were some immediate consequences of this change?
  • The Dawes Act transformed land ownership by converting communal tribal lands into individual allotments for Native American families. This shift aimed to encourage a farming lifestyle among tribes but led to the loss of approximately two-thirds of Native American territory. The consequences included not only a breakdown of traditional communal practices but also economic hardship as many families struggled with farming due to unfamiliarity with agricultural methods.
• Evaluate the impact of the Dawes Act on Native American cultural identity and how it relates to broader assimilation policies during this period.
  • The impact of the Dawes Act on Native American cultural identity was profound, as it attempted to dismantle traditional ways of life by promoting individualism over communal living. This act was part of a wider set of assimilation policies that aimed to integrate Native Americans into Euro-American culture, often resulting in cultural suppression and loss. The forced transition led many tribes to resist assimilation efforts, seeking to preserve their heritage despite government pressures.
• Analyze the long-term effects of the Dawes Act on contemporary Native American communities and their ongoing efforts toward cultural revitalization.
  • The long-term effects of the Dawes Act are still felt in contemporary Native American communities, as the act not only fragmented tribal lands but also contributed to social and economic disparities. Many tribes have been working towards cultural revitalization, seeking to reclaim their identities and traditions that were suppressed under such policies. This effort often includes language revitalization initiatives and community programs aimed at reestablishing connections to their ancestral lands and cultures, creating a pathway for healing and continuity amidst historical challenges.

Related terms

Allotment: The process of distributing individual plots of land to Native American families under the Dawes Act, which aimed to encourage farming and individual land ownership.

Assimilation: The process of adopting the cultural norms of a dominant society, often at the expense of one's original culture, particularly as applied to Native Americans during the late 19th century.

Indian Reorganization Act:

A 1934 law that aimed to reverse some aspects of the Dawes Act by promoting tribal self-government and restoring some lands to tribes after decades of allotment policies.