Dawes Act

Definition

The Dawes Act of 1887 was a federal law aimed at assimilating Native Americans into American society by allotting them individual plots of land and granting U.S. citizenship. This act sought to break up tribal landholdings, promoting individual land ownership as a means to integrate Native Americans into the agricultural economy and reduce their communal living practices, which were viewed as obstacles to progress.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Dawes Act aimed to dismantle tribal sovereignty and promote individual land ownership among Native Americans, hoping to turn them into self-sufficient farmers.
2. Native Americans were given 160 acres of land if they accepted the allotment and agreed to live separately from their tribes, while excess lands were sold to white settlers.
3. The act resulted in a significant loss of tribal lands, with estimates suggesting that Native Americans lost about two-thirds of their territory by the 1930s due to this policy.
4. The Dawes Act did not achieve its goal of successful assimilation; many Native Americans struggled with farming and maintaining their allocated lands.
5. The act laid the groundwork for future policies toward Native Americans, influencing later legislation such as the Indian Reorganization Act, which sought to reverse some of its effects.

Review Questions

• How did the Dawes Act reflect the economic motivations behind westward expansion?
  • The Dawes Act reflected the economic motivations for westward expansion by promoting individual land ownership, which aligned with the agrarian ideals prevalent among settlers. By breaking up communal tribal lands, the government aimed to integrate Native Americans into a capitalist economy that favored private property and farming. This policy not only opened up land for white settlers but also aimed to cultivate a labor force that would contribute to the growth of American agriculture and industry.
• Evaluate the impact of the Dawes Act on Native American communities and their traditional ways of life.
  • The impact of the Dawes Act on Native American communities was profound and often detrimental. It led to the fragmentation of tribal lands and disrupted traditional communal living and cultural practices. Many Native Americans faced challenges adapting to an agrarian lifestyle on small parcels of land, leading to economic hardships and loss of identity. The act ultimately resulted in a significant decrease in Native American land holdings and undermined their social structures, forcing them into a system that was alien to their historical ways of life.
• Assess how the outcomes of the Dawes Act have influenced contemporary discussions about Native American rights and land sovereignty.
  • The outcomes of the Dawes Act have significantly influenced contemporary discussions about Native American rights and land sovereignty. The loss of tribal lands has become a pivotal issue in advocating for Indigenous rights, as many tribes seek restitution or recognition of historical injustices stemming from policies like the Dawes Act. Current movements emphasize restoring sovereignty and self-determination for Native nations, highlighting the importance of tribal governance and communal land management as vital to preserving Native cultures and identities.

Related terms

Allotment: The process by which land was divided into individual parcels for Native American families under the Dawes Act, replacing collective tribal ownership with private land ownership.

Indian Reorganization Act: A 1934 law that reversed the Dawes Act's policy of assimilation by restoring some degree of self-governance and communal land ownership to Native American tribes.

Assimilation: The process of integrating individuals from different cultures into a dominant culture, often resulting in the loss of cultural identity; a key goal of the Dawes Act for Native Americans.