LAD #25: Dawes Severalty Act

The Dawes Act was the request of the the provision of land to Native American tribes on various reservations. The act gives the president power to divide up communal tribal lands help by Native Americans and split them up into individual shares. An individual's age, gender, and family status all influence the amount of land one receives. The president is able to perform this action whenever reservation land is deemed advantageous with agricultural reasons. The act also allows the US government to purchase any tribal lands and sell them to American settlers. It provides the assimilation of Indians into American culture. Finally, the act makes it clear that the government retains the right to build railroads, highways, and construct telegraph lines through the Native American's land. The 5 Civilized Tribes (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Seminole, Creek, Choctaw) and several others are excluded from the act.