[…] each and every member of the respective bands or tribes of Indians to whom allotments have been made shall have the benefit of and be subject to the laws, both civil and criminal, of the State or Territory in which they may reside; […] And every Indian born within the territorial limits of the United States to whom allotments shall have been made under the provisions of this act, or under any law or treaty […] and has adopted the habits of civilized life, is hereby declared to be a citizen of the United States[…]. (6.2)

One of the major motifs hidden within the Dawes Act is that of the idealized notion of "citizenship." It's referenced multiple times throughout the text, and seems like something totes normal to include, but the reason we want to point it out is because it has two important connotations.

The first is the obvious: the United States government wanted Native Americans to be official citizens of the United States so that they could be subject to our laws and institutions. Tribal law differed greatly between tribes—and even more from white "civilized" law—and we wanted to simplify the legal complications that arose from such matters. Sure. We can see that.

However, when Henry Dawes and his supporters wrote this act, there was a different, more insidious reason they included the term "civilized." To most Americans, American Indian tribes were backwards, unrefined, simple, and even barbaric. Their way of life was so totally foreign to those of European descent that it held mystery and threats beyond number.

So the stipulation that the new citizens had to adhere to "civilized habits" was super important. What better way to eradicate something scary than to make it more like yourself? What's scary is the unknown, so make it familiar, and boom: problem solved.

The promise of citizenship is completely valuable to people who've immigrated here for economic opportunity or who are fleeing from dangerous regimes and political persecution. They chose to live here and be part of our culture; they welcome the many benefits that U.S. citizenship provides.

In the case of the Native Americans offered citizenship, it was a different story. They were already here and doing just fine with their own laws and culture. They weren't running from anything—they were dragged.