What was the primary goal of the Dawes Act of 1887 regarding Native Americans?

The primary goal of the Dawes Act of 1887 was to "Americanize" Native Americans and grant them citizenship. The Act aimed to dismantle tribal sovereignty and encourage individual land ownership among Native Americans by allotting specific parcels of land to families or individuals. This process was seen as a way to assimilate Native Americans into American culture and society, encouraging them to adopt Western farming practices, lifestyle, and values.

By distributing land to individuals, the Dawes Act sought to undermine the communal nature of Native American life and reduce the influence of tribal governments. The long-term intent was to promote the idea of private property and integrate Native Americans into the economic fabric of the United States as independent landowners and citizens.

This approach ultimately led to significant loss of tribal land and a detrimental impact on Native American cultures and communities. While the Act was presented as a means of benefiting Native Americans, it primarily served to facilitate their assimilation into a dominant Euro-American society and diminish their traditional practices and communal life.