Final answer:
The Dawes Act of 1887 is the act aimed at assimilation and control of 'Indians' and their lands, reflecting dominant Euro-Canadian colonizer assumptions. It led to the division of communal lands and the transfer of surplus lands to the federal government. Later acts like the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 shifted towards recognizing Native American autonomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The act in question aimed at the assimilation and control of Indigenous peoples and their lands is the Dawes Act of 1887. This legislation authorized the division of communal Native American lands into individual family allotments, with the intent of promoting the assimilation of Indigenous peoples into Euro-American culture. Surplus lands were transferred to the federal government, often resulting in the displacement of Native Americans and their cultures.
The Dawes Act reflects a broader trend in U.S. policy that sought to dismantle Indigenous communal land structures and reduce the power and autonomy of Native American tribes. It aimed to replace the communal ownership model with individual property ownership, a concept more aligned with Euro-American values of private ownership and self-reliance.
Later federal legislation, such as the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, marked a shift in policy towards recognizing the autonomy of Native American tribes, allowing for the collective ownership of lands and the establishment of tribal governments to make decisions for their communities.