General Allotment Act

Definition

The General Allotment Act, also known as the Dawes Act, was enacted in 1887 with the purpose of assimilating Native Americans into American society by allotting them individual parcels of land while reducing tribal land holdings. This act significantly altered tribal governance and land ownership, leading to a loss of communal land and resources, while also creating a complicated relationship between tribes and state governments as they navigated new legal frameworks regarding land rights.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The General Allotment Act aimed to promote individual land ownership among Native Americans by breaking up communal tribal lands into smaller parcels.
2. Approximately 90 million acres of tribal land were lost due to the implementation of the General Allotment Act, severely impacting the economic base of many tribes.
3. The act encouraged Native Americans to adopt farming practices and abandon traditional communal lifestyles, which was often at odds with their cultural values.
4. After 25 years of individual ownership under the act, any unallotted lands could be sold to non-Natives, further diminishing tribal land holdings.
5. The General Allotment Act was eventually viewed as a failure, leading to subsequent policies aimed at restoring tribal land and sovereignty in the 20th century.

Review Questions

• How did the General Allotment Act change the structure of land ownership among Native American tribes?
  • The General Allotment Act fundamentally shifted land ownership from communal tribal holdings to individual allotments, aiming to assimilate Native Americans into American agricultural practices. This led to a significant loss of tribal lands, as communal areas were broken up into smaller plots assigned to individuals. Consequently, this dismantling of traditional governance structures weakened tribal authority and control over resources, altering the very foundation of Native American societies.
• Discuss the implications of the General Allotment Act on tribal-state relations during its implementation.
  • The General Allotment Act created complex dynamics in tribal-state relations by introducing a new legal framework for land ownership that often sidelined tribal governance. As individual allotments were distributed, it led to increased encroachment by state governments and settlers on formerly communal lands. The act's implementation not only facilitated the assimilation policy but also set a precedent for future legal disputes between tribes and states regarding land rights and sovereignty.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of the General Allotment Act on Native American rights to land and resources in contemporary contexts.
  • The long-term effects of the General Allotment Act are evident today in the ongoing struggles for Native American rights to land and resources. The massive loss of land due to this policy has resulted in economic disadvantages for many tribes, as they fight to reclaim lost territories and assert their sovereignty. Contemporary issues like land trusts and efforts toward restoration highlight a continued response to the injustices initiated by the allotment policies, showing how historical actions shape current legal and social frameworks surrounding Native American lands.

Related terms

Dawes Rolls:

Official lists created under the Dawes Act that recorded the names of Native Americans who were eligible for land allotments.

Tribal Sovereignty: The inherent authority of tribes to govern themselves, make their own laws, and manage their own affairs without interference from outside authorities.

Land Trusts: Legal arrangements in which land is held by a trustee for the benefit of Native American tribes, aimed at protecting tribal lands from being sold or taxed.