Dawes Act Research Paper

Rosa Shakouri Professor Mojado May 18, 2024 AIS 101.

The Impact of the Dawes Act of 1887 on Native American Societies.

The Dawes Act of 1887, also known as the General Allotment Act, stands as a pivotal piece of legislation in the history of United States policy towards Native Americans. Enacted under the guise of promoting the assimilation of Native Americans into American society, the Act aimed to dismantle communal land holdings and promote individual land ownership among Native peoples. However, the consequences of the Dawes Act were far-reaching and devastating, leading to significant loss of land, cultural disintegration, and lasting socio-economic impacts on Native American communities. Furthermore, the event will critically analyze the historical context, intentions, and outcomes of the Dawes Act, and reflect on its enduring legacy within Native American history.

For some background, in the late 19th century, the United States government pursued policies aimed at assimilating Native Americans into mainstream American culture. The prevailing belief among policymakers was that the …show more content…
Boarding schools, which sought to "civilize" Native children by removing them from their families and communities, played a significant role in this cultural disintegration. In addition, when children received allotments, “some did not know how to farm because they had spent their youth in boarding schools” (National Park Service). The loss of land, combined with these assimilationist policies, led to widespread poverty, social dislocation, and a deep sense of cultural loss among Native American communities. However, these changes were intentional. The intent of the Dawes Act was to ethnically cleanse with “intentional breaking down of Native peoples’ cultures and traditions, essentially ethnocide” (Harvard

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