The Dawes Act 1887 Flashcards
What year was the Dawes Act?
1887
Why was the Dawes Act introduced in the first place?
Because whites had been trying to settle on ‘Indian territory’ since the 1830s.
What was the Dawes Act?
It was the splitting of Indian lands in Indian territory into 160 acres per Indian family. Indians could also purchase unclaimed land.
How did this act impact the Indians, what system did it end?
It ended the reservation system by forcing the Indians to leave, splitting up tribes.
What problems did the Indians who moved face?
They struggled to farm due to having no experience, thus many Indians starved. Being split up meant they couldn’t hunt buffalo or rely on the tribe.
How did the Act impact Indian territory?
By 1890, the Indians lost 50% of their territory as they had been tricked by the whites. Some of their land was also sold for food and resources to survive.
What examples of Indian territory was split up?
Cherokee and Cheyenne lands.
How did this lead to white settlement?
Opening of unclaimed land led to the Oklahoma land rush in 1889 where 2 million acres were sold. Eventually, there were 7 land rushes by 1895 with over 10 million acres settled on by whites. This supported the idea of American’s ‘Manifest Destiny’.
What is Manifest Destiny?
The white belief that God wanted them to go west to conquer the land and prosper. They believed it was their destiny and duty.
