feb 8, 1887 - Dawes Severalty Act
Description:
(continues until 1934)
Sets up the Allotment Policy, splits up reservations held communally by tribes into smaller units and distributed them to individuals in the tribe. On the reservations, Native Americans had been able to continue with their tribal life but this act aimed to stop that. Dawes was convinced he was helping the Native Americans and believed he was saving them from themselves and treating them like white settlers - ignorant. Aimed to sever the links between Native Americans and the reservations but it didn't have the effect the government thought it would as it went against Native Americans beliefs and farming land and land ownership was alien to them. Was said that the Indian could now be free from his tribe and backward lifestyle - were making them 'civilised'. The Five Civilised Tribes were initially exempt from the Act.
Added to timeline:
Native Americans and Civil Rights
1865 - 1992
Date:
