What was the primary goal of the Dawes act
The primary goal of the Dawes Act, also known as the General Allotment Act, was to promote the assimilation of Native American tribes into mainstream American society by encouraging private land ownership and agricultural practices.
To find the answer, you can conduct a search on the Dawes Act. This act was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1887 and aimed to address perceived problems within Native American reservations, such as poverty and lack of development. The act authorized the federal government to divide tribal lands into individual allotments, which were then granted to Native American individuals and families. The intent was to incentivize Native Americans to adopt the agrarian lifestyles of European Americans, with the belief that private land ownership and farming would lead to a prosperous and assimilated society.
However, it is essential to note that the Dawes Act had significant negative consequences for Native American communities. The forced division of tribal lands often resulted in the loss of communal land, the displacement of Native Americans, and the erosion of cultural traditions and practices. Today, the Dawes Act is widely recognized as a failed policy that had devastating impacts on Native American communities.