One of the reasons the "Indian Problem" was such a big deal was because the American people saw Native Americans as a serious threat to their ability to control the new continent. The tribes' resistance to assimilation (and domination, for that matter) proved to be a real thorn in the American settlers' side, because the burgeoning white population needed more and more land.
When fighting the powerful Native American tribes and confederations turned out to be a tough gig, we turned to the next logical solution: legislation.
Let's watch those uncivilized people fight back against that. What do they know about law, anyway?
Questions About Power
- What are some of the ways this Act declares power over the Native Americans?
- What power did the Native Americans have, if any, to fight back against the Dawes Act?
- Which sections specifically outline powers attributed to one individual/agency? Is that important?
Chew on This
Americans had always been threatened by the Native American's sovereignty over important areas of land, so the Dawes Act was crafted to take away that power.
The Dawes Act made it look like receiving an allotment was voluntary. But since unallotted land would be taken by the government, it was actually a huge power play.