American Transformation And Industrialisation: 1868-1890 - The Dawes General Allotment Act (1887)

The Dawes General Allotment Act of 1887 aimed to allot land to Native Americans to promote their welfare and cultural transformation. However, its true intent was to open Native lands for resettlement. The Act promised 160 acres per family, but many Native Americans were skeptical due to past government betrayals. The Act led to significant land loss through exploitation by business interests. Although repealed in 1934, the land was not returned, and existing deeds were upheld.

What was the stated purpose of the Dawes General Allotment Act of 1887?

• To provide education to Native Americans

• To allot lands to Indians and extend U.S. laws over them

• To create reservations for Native Americans

• To establish trade routes with Native American tribes

According to Congressman Henry Dawes, what did it mean to be 'civilized'?

• To live in harmony with nature

• To adopt American cultural practices and own property

• To maintain traditional Native American customs

• To engage in trade with settlers

Why did many Native Americans view the land allotment offer with suspicion?

• They were not interested in farming

• They wanted more land than was offered

• They had been deceived by the government in the past

• They preferred to remain hunters

What was a significant consequence of the Dawes Act in terms of land ownership?

• Native Americans gained more land

• Land was often taken by business interests through fraud

• All land was returned to Native Americans

• The government built schools on the land

What did the Reorganization Act of 1934 do regarding the land obtained through the Dawes Act?

• It grandfathered in the existing deeds to the land

• It nullified all existing land deeds

• It redistributed the land among different tribes

• It returned all land to Native Americans