5.2 The Dawes Act and allotment policies

The Dawes Act of 1887 was a huge blow to Native American tribes. It broke up communal lands, giving plots to individual families. The goal? Force Native Americans to farm like white settlers and blend into mainstream society.

This policy had devastating effects. Tribes lost millions of acres of land. Traditional ways of life crumbled. The act also introduced blood quantum rules, sparking debates about Native identity that continue today.

General Allotment Act (Dawes Act) of 1887

Purpose and Implementation of the Dawes Act

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• General Allotment Act (Dawes Act) of 1887 aimed to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream American society
• Introduced land allotment system to break up communal tribal lands
• Allocated parcels of land to individual Native American families
• Intended to promote individual land ownership among Native Americans
• Sought to encourage Native Americans to adopt European-American agricultural practices

Land Distribution and Surplus

• Distributed land in specific acreage amounts based on family status (160 acres for family heads, 80 acres for single adults)
• Mandated 25-year trust period during which allotted lands could not be sold or leased
• Designated remaining tribal lands as surplus after allotment process
• Opened surplus lands for sale to non-Native settlers
• U.S. government held proceeds from surplus land sales in trust for tribes

Impact on Native American Culture and Sovereignty

• Undermined traditional communal land ownership practices of Native American tribes
• Disrupted tribal social structures and governance systems
• Forced many Native Americans to adopt unfamiliar agricultural lifestyles
• Reduced tribal control over land and resources
• Created checkerboard pattern of land ownership on reservations

Citizenship and Blood Quantum

Blood Quantum and Tribal Membership

• Blood quantum refers to the percentage of Native American ancestry an individual possesses
• Introduced as a method to determine eligibility for tribal membership and federal benefits
• Varied among tribes, with some requiring higher percentages for enrollment
• Created controversies and divisions within Native American communities
• Led to debates about cultural identity vs. genetic heritage

Citizenship Provisions and the Burke Act

• Dawes Act granted U.S. citizenship to Native Americans who accepted allotments
• Citizenship came with voting rights and other legal protections
• Burke Act of 1906 amended citizenship provisions of the Dawes Act
• Delayed granting of citizenship until end of 25-year trust period
• Allowed Secretary of Interior to issue fee patents to competent allottees before trust period ended

Implications of Citizenship and Competency

• Citizenship often resulted in loss of tribal citizenship and associated rights
• Competency determinations based on subjective assessments by government officials
• Fee patents removed restrictions on land sales, leaving allottees vulnerable to exploitation
• Created complex legal status for Native Americans as both U.S. citizens and tribal members
• Led to ongoing debates about tribal sovereignty and self-determination

Consequences of Allotment

Massive Tribal Land Loss

• Resulted in loss of approximately 90 million acres of tribal lands between 1887 and 1934
• Reduced Native American land holdings from 138 million acres to 48 million acres
• Fragmented remaining tribal lands, making them difficult to manage effectively
• Forced many Native Americans into poverty as they lost access to traditional resources
• Created long-lasting economic challenges for tribal communities

Cultural and Social Disruption

• Weakened traditional tribal governance structures and social bonds
• Eroded Native American languages, religious practices, and cultural traditions
• Forced assimilation into European-American culture and lifestyle
• Resulted in intergenerational trauma and loss of cultural identity
• Led to increased dependency on federal government for basic needs and services

Long-term Economic and Environmental Impacts

• Created widespread poverty among Native American communities
• Resulted in loss of valuable natural resources and economic opportunities
• Led to environmental degradation of former tribal lands due to overuse and poor management
• Contributed to ongoing economic disparities between Native and non-Native populations
• Sparked later efforts for land reclamation and tribal economic development initiatives