1887: Dawes Act

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Description:

On February 8, 1887, Congress passed the General Allotment Act which is better known as the Dawes Act. For years, the American government had been concerned about what to do with the Native American population living within the United States. The aim of the Dawes Act was to make restitution for all that had been done to the Indian by the white man through the years.^[1] Many people felt that private ownership of land would help to further civilize the Indian and would lead to the eventual assimilation of Indians into white society.^[2] In reality, allotment was counted on to break up tribal life.^[3] One important provision of the act was that it allotted 160 acres to each family head, 80 to each single person over 18 and orphan under the age of 18, and 40 to single persons under the age of 18.^[4] Citizenship was also given to the allotted and any other Indians who abandoned their tribes and adopted a civilized life. Congress also had the power of eminent domain over the allotted land.^[5] While the Dawes Act was one of the most important pieces of legislation dealing with Indian affairs, it was not created with having what was truly in the best interest of the Indian in mind.

Related Event:

1831: Cherokee vs Georgia 1877: Surrender of the Western Tribes

Sources:

^[1] D.S. Otis, The Dawes Act and Allotment of Indian Lands, (Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1973), 8.

^[2] Ibid., IX.

^[3] Ibid., 9.

^[4] Ibid., 6.

^[5] Ibid., 7.