Final answer:
Supporters of the Dawes Act thought it would help American Indians assimilate into mainstream American society by promoting the adoption of private land ownership and farming practices. However, the act led to significant loss of Native American lands and damage to their community structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Perspective of Dawes Act Supporters
Supporters of the Dawes Act believed that the act would help American Indians by encouraging their assimilation into the prevailing American culture of the period. They argued that by transitioning Native Americans from communal living to individual land ownership, it would teach them the value of private property, which was a cornerstone of American economic philosophy. This was intended to ‘civilize’ the Native Americans by promoting farming and sedentary lifestyles similar to those of their white American neighbors, thereby eroding their indigenous cultural practices in favor of what was then considered mainstream American values.
Impact on Native Americans
The Dawes Act of 1887 had a profound impact on Native Americans, leading to a substantial loss of their communal lands and an infringement upon their traditional ways of life. Despite its purported aim of aiding integration, in practice, the act resulted in the dispossession of tribal land and the disintegration of Native American communities. By making individuals accept private land plots, the policy not only reduced the land base but also weakened tribal governments and social structures.