In order for the Dawes Act to have legitimacy and a sense of magnanimity, it needed to adopt a paternalistic approach towards the domination of Native Americans. Everything, you see, was for their betterment. Thus, they were given "choices" throughout the bill, where they could act "towards their own benefit."
Of course, the Dawes Act had definite ideas about what was for the tribes' benefit, and they stacked the deck against any real choice. Sure, you could decide to accept an allotment—totally up to you—but if you didn't, the land would be sold out from under your tribe to white settlers.
It was really an illusion of choice, because what kind of choice is it if all the alternatives are set by the government?
Questions About Choices
- Were the Native Americans truly given any choices under the intentions of the Dawes Act?
- Did the American government want the Native Americans to have choices, or just for it to seem like they did?
- Why did the illusion of choice help get the bill passed?
Chew on This
The whole point of the Dawes Act was to get the tribes to "choose" assimilation into white American culture.
When in Rome (or Oklahoma)…