Dawes Act of 1887

Definition

The Dawes Act of 1887 was a U.S. law that aimed to assimilate Native Americans into American society by allotting individual plots of land to families, while redistributing the remaining tribal land to white settlers. This act was significant as it marked a shift from communal land ownership among Native American tribes to individual ownership, leading to significant loss of tribal land and identity, and played a crucial role in the broader narrative of the end of the frontier.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Dawes Act resulted in the loss of over 90 million acres of tribal land, which was either sold to white settlers or given to railroads and other interests.
2. The act aimed to encourage Native Americans to adopt farming practices and integrate into Euro-American society, undermining their traditional lifestyles and cultural practices.
3. Native American families were allocated 160 acres of land each, while remaining communal lands were opened up for settlement by non-Native Americans.
4. The Dawes Act led to a significant decline in Native American population due to loss of land and resources, contributing to socioeconomic struggles.
5. In 1934, the Indian Reorganization Act aimed to reverse some effects of the Dawes Act by restoring some rights to Native tribes and halting further allotment of tribal lands.

Review Questions

• How did the Dawes Act reflect the U.S. government's approach towards Native American tribes during the late 19th century?
  • The Dawes Act represented a paternalistic approach by the U.S. government towards Native American tribes, as it sought to forcibly integrate them into mainstream American society. The law emphasized individual land ownership over communal tribal living, which was seen as a means to 'civilize' Native Americans according to Euro-American standards. This reflected a broader belief at the time that Native cultures were inferior and needed to be transformed through assimilation.
• Analyze the long-term impacts of the Dawes Act on Native American communities and their social structures.
  • The long-term impacts of the Dawes Act were devastating for Native American communities, leading to significant fragmentation of tribal landholdings and weakening social structures. As families received individual allotments, communal ties weakened, resulting in a loss of cultural practices and traditional governance systems. The act set a precedent for further dispossession and marginalization, making it difficult for tribes to maintain their identities and sustain their communities.
• Evaluate how the Dawes Act of 1887 fits into the larger narrative of U.S. expansionism and its effects on Indigenous peoples.
  • The Dawes Act of 1887 is a critical part of the larger narrative of U.S. expansionism as it exemplified the policies aimed at subjugating Indigenous peoples in favor of settler interests. By promoting individual land ownership and undermining tribal sovereignty, the act facilitated further encroachment on Native lands during a time when westward expansion was heavily prioritized by the government. This not only resulted in immense loss of land but also dismantled social structures that had sustained Indigenous cultures for centuries, setting off a chain reaction of cultural erasure and economic hardship that continues to resonate today.

Related terms

Assimilation: The process by which individuals or groups adopt the culture and customs of another group, often losing their original identity in the process.

Reservation System: A policy that designated specific areas of land for Native American tribes to live on, often leading to their displacement from traditional lands.

Homestead Act:

A law passed in 1862 that provided land to settlers in the West, promoting westward expansion and often displacing Native American populations.