What was the dawes act and how did native Americans react to it?

The Dawes Act, also known as the General Allotment Act of 1887, was a significant piece of legislation in the United States aimed at assimilating Native Americans into mainstream American society. The act, sponsored by Senator Henry L. Dawes, had several key provisions:

1. Allotment of Land:

  - The Dawes Act authorized the federal government to survey Native American tribal land and divide it into individual allotments for tribal members. Each head of a Native American family was to receive a specific parcel of land.

2. Assimilation and Citizenship:

  - The intention behind the allotment was to encourage Native Americans to adopt the individual ownership of land, farming practices, and a sedentary lifestyle. The act aimed to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream American culture and economy, with the ultimate goal of granting them U.S. citizenship.

3. Surplus Land:

  - Any "surplus" land not allotted to Native individuals was declared as "surplus" and opened up to non-Native settlement. This often led to the loss of significant portions of tribal land.

Native American Reactions:

The Dawes Act was met with a range of reactions from Native American communities:

1. Resistance and Opposition:

  - Many Native Americans resisted the Dawes Act, viewing it as a threat to their communal land ownership and cultural practices. The concept of individual land ownership contradicted traditional Native American communal land use.

2. Loss of Tribal Land:

  - The allotment process resulted in the loss of substantial tribal land as "surplus" land was often sold or taken over by non-Native settlers. This had severe consequences for the economic and cultural well-being of Native communities.

3. Erosion of Tribal Identity:

  - The Dawes Act contributed to the erosion of tribal identity by encouraging the dissolution of communal land practices. It sought to assimilate Native Americans into the mainstream American way of life, undermining traditional cultural values.

4. Economic Hardships:

  - Allotments were often insufficient for sustainable agriculture, leading to economic hardships for many Native American families. The lack of support and resources for successful farming further exacerbated poverty.

Overall, the Dawes Act had a detrimental impact on Native American communities, contributing to the loss of tribal land, cultural disruption, and economic struggles. It is considered a part of a broader historical period known as the assimilation era, during which U.S. policies aimed to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream American society.