LAD/Blog #25: The Dawes Act

The Dawes Act was a U.S. law that provided for the distribution of Indian reservation land among tribal men, in the hopes of them assimilating into a white man. Was enacted in 1877. The law stated that the president determined who received between 80 to 160 acres of land for 25 years. It also stated that the Indians who received land were U.S. citizens in the eyes of the law. The Act hurt the lives of Indians who had trouble transitioning from nomadic to agricultural life. Others lost their property and life on the reservation was no worse for the weary. This was the opposite of the original sponsors goals. Also much of the land ended up in the hands of white people.


Like the Dawes Act the Homestead Act offered land to those who met certain requirements, but the Homestead Act was aimed at migration while the Dawes Act purpose was assimilation.

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