Question

What is the viewpoint of Native Americans regarding the Dawes Act?

A. They view it as a beneficial policy that aided in their economic growth.
B. They consider it a fair and just legislation that protected their land rights.
C. They see it as a harmful policy that led to loss of tribal land and culture.
D. They believe it provided equal opportunities and improved their social status.

Answer 1

Native Americans view the Dawes Act as detrimental, as it led to the loss of their tribal lands and disrupted their way of life.

Step-by-step explanation:

The viewpoint of Native Americans regarding the Dawes Act is generally negative. They see it as a harmful policy that led to the loss of tribal land and culture (C). The Act was intended to encourage assimilation among Native Americans by dividing communal tribal land into individual allotments for Native American families with the surplus land being sold to white settlers. This dismantled communal living, disrupted their social and economic structures, and ultimately resulted in a significant loss of Native American land to white Americans. Senator Henry Teller criticized the Act, noting that its true aim was to acquire Indian lands under the guise of 'humanity,' which he deemed the 'worst inhumanity.'