LAD #21: The Dawes Act

The Dawes Act was “An Act to Provide for the Allotment of Lands in Severalty to Indians on the Various Reservations, and to extend the Protection of the Laws of the United States and the Territories over the Indians, and for Other Purposes.” The Dawes Act is split up into eleven sections. In the first section says that a Native American family may receive 160 acres if they are to farm, 80 acres if they are to raise cattle and 40 acres for any normal living purposes. The second section states that all allotments set apart under the provisions of this act shall be selected by the Indians. The third section requires the Native American agent to certify each allotment and provide two copies of the certification. The fourth section states that Native Americans not living on the reservation shall receive equal allotment. The fifth statement provides that the Secretary of the Interior will hold the allotments "in trust" for 25 years. The sixth section says that upon the completion of said allotments, the Native Americans will become citizens. The seventh section deals with water rights, the eight exempts the Five Civilized Tribes from certain laws, the ninth deals with how the act will be paid for, the tenth asserts the power of eminent domain, and the eleventh contains a provision for the Southern Ute Native Americans.