LAD/Blog #25: The Dawes Act

The Dawes act gave the president the power to divide up Native American land. Farm land was divided among the Indian tribes based off age, gender roles, and more. The remaining land was given to American settlers. This was also an attempt to assimilate the Native Americans, therefore are the Native Americans were now US citizens under the same rights and protective laws.

This is similar to the Homestead Act 1862, which encouraged western migration by granting settlers with 160 acres of land.