Dawes Act 1887: Breaking Up Tribal Lands — Reading Comprehension

The Dawes Act of 1887 was a United States law that forced a major change in how land was held by Native American tribes. Before this law, many Native Americans lived on land managed by their tribe as a whole. Tribal land was not owned by individuals, but belonged to the community. The U.S. government saw this system as a problem. Officials believed that if Native Americans adopted private land ownership and farming, they would become more like white American settlers.

The government’s main stated goal was assimilation, or blending Native Americans into mainstream American society. Lawmakers argued that private property would help Native Americans become independent farmers. Senator Henry Dawes, the law’s sponsor, said, "To be civilized is to cultivate the ground, to live in houses, to ride in wagons." This quote shows the government’s belief that Native Americans needed to change their way of life in order to be "civilized." However, many Native Americans valued their traditional cultures and did not want to give up communal land or their own ways of living.

The Dawes Act divided tribal land into small plots called allotments. Each Native American family was supposed to receive a certain amount of land, usually 160 acres for a family or 80 acres for a single adult. Any land left over after the allotments was called "surplus" and could be sold to non-Native settlers. This process led to a dramatic loss of tribal land. By 1934, Native Americans had lost about two-thirds of the land they had owned before the Dawes Act.

The effects of the Dawes Act were complicated and often devastating. On one hand, some supporters claimed it would help Native Americans become successful farmers and citizens. On the other hand, many Native Americans felt betrayed. They saw the law as an attack on their traditions, sovereignty, and self-determination. Tribes lost control over their land, and families were often given poor or unsuitable plots. In many cases, Native people did not receive the tools or support needed to succeed as farmers. The loss of land also weakened tribal governments and communities, making it harder to maintain cultural traditions.

The Dawes Act also led to conflicts within tribes. Some individuals accepted their allotments, hoping to protect their families. Others refused, seeing acceptance as giving up their identity. The law created divisions between those who tried to adapt and those who resisted. Native American leaders frequently protested the law. One wrote, "You ask us to plow the ground. Shall we dig under it and destroy the roots?" This statement shows the difficult choice Native Americans faced: adapt to survive, or resist to keep their culture intact.

Historians today agree that the Dawes Act had severe, long-lasting consequences for Native American communities. The law reduced tribal land holdings, disrupted traditional ways of life, and damaged tribal unity. While the U.S. government claimed assimilation would help Native Americans, many now see the Dawes Act as a tool for taking land and weakening tribal nations. In 1934, the Indian Reorganization Act ended the policy of allotment and allowed tribes to regain some self-government, but the damage from the Dawes Act could not be completely undone.

Interesting Fact: By 1934, Native Americans had lost about 90 million acres of land due to the Dawes Act and similar laws.

When was the Dawes Act passed?

What did the Dawes Act divide?

Who was the Dawes Act named after?

Why did the U.S. government want assimilation?

How did the Dawes Act affect tribal unity?

What does the quote about plowing the ground show?

Allotment means dividing land into family plots.

What does 'sovereignty' mean?