1. Allotment of Reservation Land: The act divided tribal lands into individual allotments, assigning each household a parcel of land. The government aimed to encourage private land ownership and farming, as it was envisioned as the path to becoming "civilized" and assimilated.
2. Breaking Up Communal Land: The act broke up communal land ownership on reservations, which had been a customary practice among many Native tribes. The Dawes Act promoted the idea of individual property rights, which was unfamiliar to some tribes.
3. Surpluss Land Sale: Any "surplus" land on the reservations after allotments were made was sold to non-Native settlers, often leading to the reduction of Native Americans' landholdings.
4. Promoting Assimilation: The Dawes Act aimed to promote assimilation by transitioning Native American to a farming lifestyle and integrating them into the dominante society. It was part of a broader effort to encourage cultural assimilation and discourage traditional practices.
5. Education: Government-run boarding schools were established under the Dawes Act to educate Native American children in Euro-American ways, often separating them from their cultures and families.
6. Dissolution of Tribal Governments: The act undermined tribal governments and the authority of tribal leaders by encouraging individual allotments. It weakened tribal sovereignty and autonomy.
While the Dawes Act had benevolent intentions on the surface, its implementation had devastating effects on Native American tribes and their traditional ways of life. Many lost communal land, struggled to adapt to the new farming lifestyle, and faced poverty, displacement, and cultural erosion. The act's policies created long-lasting consequences that continue to impact Native American communities today.