What was the Dawes Act — Reading Comprehension

The Dawes Act was a law passed by the United States government in 1887. It was also known as the General Allotment Act. This law changed the way land was owned by Native Americans and had a big impact on their lives. The late 1800s was a time when the U.S. government wanted Native Americans to become more like white settlers. They believed that by changing the way Native Americans used land, they could help them "fit in" with American society.

Before the Dawes Act, Native American tribes owned land together as a group. The land was not divided into private pieces. The Dawes Act broke up tribal lands and gave small sections of land, called allotments, to individual Native American families. Each family received about 160 acres. The rest of the land was declared "surplus" and sold to non-Native settlers.

Many Native Americans did not want their land divided, but the government forced this change. This law led to the loss of millions of acres of Native land. The government hoped that giving land to individuals would help Native Americans become farmers and adopt the "American way of life." However, most Native Americans lost their land because of unfair rules and the sale of "surplus" land.

The Dawes Act said, "Each head of a family shall be entitled to an allotment of one-quarter of a section of land." This quote shows how the law divided land between families instead of tribes.

The Dawes Act is important in history because it changed Native American communities and led to the loss of their traditional lands and culture. It also showed how U.S. government policies could have lasting effects on people and their way of life.

Interesting Fact: By 1934, Native Americans had lost about two-thirds of their land because of the Dawes Act.

When was the Dawes Act passed?

Who was affected by the Dawes Act?

What was given to Native families?

Why did the government create the Dawes Act?

What was the main result of the Dawes Act?

What does the quote from the Dawes Act show?

The Dawes Act was passed in 1887. True or false?

What does 'allotment' mean?