USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Approved on February 8, 1887, “An Act to Provide for the Allotment of Lands in Severalty to Indians on the Various Reservations, ” known as the Dawes Act, emphasized severalty – the treatment of Native Americans as individuals rather than as members of tribes.

Detailed explanation-2: -What was the Dawes Act? The Dawes Act (sometimes called the Dawes Severalty Act or General Allotment Act), passed in 1887 under President Grover Cleveland, allowed the federal government to break up tribal lands.

Detailed explanation-3: -As a result of the General Allotment Act of 1887 (also called the Dawes Act), 90 million acres of Indian land were taken out of Indian ownership and control. From 1887 to 1934, 60 million acres of “surplus” Indian lands were sold or transferred to non-Indians.

Detailed explanation-4: -Quotes on the Dawes Act "The Indian may now become a free man; free from the thralldom of the tribe; free from the domination of the reservation system; free to enter into the body of our citizens. This bill may therefore be considered as the Magna Carta of the Indians of our country."