LAD/Blog #25: The Dawes Act

The Act gives the power to the President to divide up the communal tribal lands held by the Native American Indians, and split them up into shares for each individual. The amount each Indian receives is determined by his age, gender, and family status. The President may perform this function whenever the land of reservations is deemed advantageous for agricultural purposes. Furthermore, it allows the government to purchase any excess Indian lands and sell them to American settlers. In addition, the Act provides for the assimilation of Indians into American culture. The Act excludes the 5 Civilized Tribes and several others. Finally, it makes it clear that the government retains the right to build railroads, highways, and construct telegraph lines through appointed Indian lands. Senator Henry Dawes of Massachusetts passed the act in an attempt to prevent the extermination of Native Americans throughout the United States. Dawes thought that by helping each family, they would have a much better chance of surviving. Unfortunately, the act wiped out a majority of the Native American population.






The Dawes Act reminded me of the Morrill Land-Grant Acts because both relied on federal power to encourage the sale of land for the benefit of the common man.