Final answer:
The Dawes Act of 1887 was passed to encourage assimilation among Native Americans by dividing reservations into individual family plots. While seen as a generous opportunity by the dominant society, Native Americans viewed it as an assault on their way of life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Dawes Act of 1887 was a law passed with the purpose of encouraging assimilation among Native Americans. It authorized the division of existing reservations into individual family plots and transferred the remaining lands to the federal government. From the perspective of the dominant society, the act was seen as a generous opportunity for Native Americans to receive free land and adopt American farming methods. However, Native Americans viewed the Dawes Act as an assault on their way of life, as it prevented them from hunting and ended their communal lifestyle.