8. The Dawes Act 1887

Question 1

what did The Dawes Severalty Act do

Answer 1

divided reservations up into plots or allotments which were given to NA
Turned NA into landowners. full rights of citizenship (they now paid tax).

Question 2

why was The Dawes Severalty Act introduced?

Answer 2

Reservations ensured tribal life would continue. NA could retain some of their tribal customs and culture. not the intention of government!

Question 3

How did Act undermine NA position?

Answer 3

ignored belief that land belonged to all creatures and could not be owned by individuals.

Question 4

why was there a decline in land owned by NA

Answer 4

much of it bought by white settlers when NA unable to farm it.
received money from sale however unable to manage such sums and slipped further into poverty and debt.

Question 5

how did the act worsen position and status of NA women

Answer 5

tribes that were matriarchal such as Iroquois and Cherokee- property belonged to women but under Dawes act land was given to men

Question 6

which tribes were originally exempt from Act

Answer 6

The Five Civilised Tribes 
the Cherokee, 
Chickasaw, 
Choctaw, 
Creek and Seminole

Question 7

what Act ended the 5 civilised tribes exemption from the Dawes Act

Answer 7

1898 The Curtis Act

Question 8

how did 5 civilized tribes attempt to prevent the curtis act ending their exemption? what happened as a result of this being unsuccessful?

Answer 8

by proposing their lands became the state of Sequoyah.

NA lost a further 2 million acres of land.

Question 9

Cherokee Nation v. Hitchcock case
when?
what?

Answer 9

1902

Cherokees challenged congress’s right to deny them their rights to live according to their laws

Question 10

Lone wolf v. Hitchcock case
when?
what?

Answer 10

1903
gave government right to revoke all treaties made with NA
stated they were ‘an ignorant and dependent race’ who were not citizens of the USA and therefore had no rights