How Did The Dawes Act Affect The Plight Of Native Americans?

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Native Americans refer to a group of individuals who descended from the indigenous communities that lived in Columbia. The increase in the population started in the 15th Century were European started migrating to America. Full control of these ancient occupants by the United States Government has been blamed for the suffering and poverty they live in today. The policies on land and economy limit the Indian’s abilities to experience sustainable economic growth. Lies and broken promises characterize the American policies on the Native Americans. They say that the American history did not observe the “freedom and equality for all” rule. With the expansion of the American population during the ancient times, the federal government began experiencing …show more content…

Moreover, each of the new land owners who were ready to leave their common activities or rather practices and consequently embraced the “habits of a civilized life,” as denoted by the state would be rewarded with an American citizenship. On the other hand, the Act outlined that there would be surplus reservation land for sale to the settlers. It is evident that the intents of the Dawes Act had good intentions but however failed to meet them. For instance, the Indians received poor and infertile lands and the Americanization initiative oversaw the erosion of their way of life. In the rear, following the initiative of allocating surplus land to the Indians, they lost a significant 900 million from the 140 acres intended for …show more content…

As a matter of fact, from that period, they had to bear with policies that undermined their culture nut, however, failed to equip them with the necessary resources to support their children and businesses. Moreover, the further reduction of the reservations into tinnier subdivisions resulted in a drastic decrease in the area of land owned by the Natives. It had become a routine for the Natives to be enticed out of their allotments and even forcefully made to sell their tracts of land for them to feed their families and even pay bills. Thus the Natives were not Americanized as promised. Instead, they lost their potential and ability to become self-sustaining ranchers and even farmers different from the initial intents of the policy. Notably, it also sparked a sense of resentment amongst the Indians on the government of the United States as the entire allotment scheme altered with their spiritual and cultural