Final answer:
The Dawes Act of 1887, which aimed at assimilating Native Americans by allotting individual land plots, ultimately resulted in the loss of Native American lands to federal control and white settlers. It disrupted native communal lifestyles, traditions, and landholdings, with long-lasting negative impacts on Native American tribes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Dawes Act of 1887 is a significant historical subject that revolves around the U.S. government's policy toward Native Americans and their land. This act, also known as the General Allotment Act, was passed under the pretense of assimilating Native Americans into 'American' society by converting their communal landholding system into individual allotments.
From the viewpoint of Native Americans, the Dawes Act severely disrupted their communal lifestyle and traditions. It also led to the loss of millions of acres of their land, transforming the surplus land to the federal government, which was then made available to Anglo settlers. The act mandated that 160 acres of farmland or 320 acres of grazing land would be allocated to each head of family, with the government holding the land in trust for 25 years. However, much of the land assigned to Native Americans was arid and unsuitable for farming, while the 'surplus' land was often beneficial to white settlers.
Senator Henry Teller was notably forthright about the intentions behind the Dawes Act, acknowledging that its real aim was to access Indian lands. Additionally, by the provisions of the Indian Appropriation Acts, Native American tribes were no longer recognized as independent nations, making it easier for the government to take over tribal lands. Analysis of the aftermath shows that many Native Americans lost their lands within a generation or two after accepting the allotment.