What effect did the Dawes act have on the American Indians?

Answer 1

The Dawes Act was enacted on February 8, 1887 regarding the distribution of land to Native Americans in Oklahoma. Named after its sponsor, U.S. Senator Henry L. Dawes of Massachusetts, the act was amended in 1891 and again in 1906 by the Burke Act. The act remained in effect until 1934. * Section One authorizes the President to survey Native American tribal areas and divide the arable land into sections for the individual. It says that a Native American family may receive 160 acres (0.65 km2) if they are to farm, 80 acres (320,000 m2) if they are to raise cattle and 40 acres (160,000 m2) for any normal living purposes. * Section Two states that each Native American will choose his or her own allotment and the family will choose for each minor child. The Native American agent will choose for orphan children. * Section Three requires the U.S. American agent to certify each allotment and provide two copies of the certification to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs one to be kept in the Indian Office and the other to be transmitted to the United States Department of the Interior (Secretary of the Interior) for his action, and to be sent to the General Land Office. * Section Four provides that Native Americans not residing on their reservation and Native Americans without reservations will receive the equal allotment. * Section Five provides that a Secretary of the Interior will hold the allotments "in trust" for 25 years. At that time, the title will belong to the allotment holder or heirs. It also allows the Secretary to negotiate under existing treaties for the land not allotted to be purchased on "terms and conditions as shall be considered just and equitable between the United States and said tribe of Indians." * Section Six states that upon completion of the land patent process, the allotment holder will become a United States citizen and "be entitled to all the rights, privileges, and immunities of such citizens". * Section Seven addresses water rights on irrigated land. * Section Eight exempts the Five Civilized Tribes and several others from the act. * Section Nine appropriates the funds to carry out the act. * Section Ten asserts the Power of Eminent Domain of the Congress over the allotments. * Section Eleven contains a provision for the Southern Ute Native Americans that they could move from their present reservation in Southwestern Colorado to a new reservation if a majority of the adult male members wanted so.

Answer 2

Native Americans lost much of the land that they had before the passage of the act.