What did the Dawes Act of 1887 aim to do?

The Dawes Act of 1887 aimed to divide tribal land into individual allotments primarily to promote assimilation of Native Americans into American society. The act sought to break up communal tribal landholding, which was the traditional way that Native Americans had managed their land. By allotting specific parcels of land to individual Native Americans, the government intended to encourage them to adopt agricultural practices common among Euro-Americans, fostering a sense of individual ownership and responsibility.

This shift from communal living to individual allotments also had significant implications for tribal sovereignty and culture, as it undermined the collective nature of tribes. The overarching goal was to integrate Native Americans into the mainstream of American life, albeit in a way that often disregarded their cultural identities and rights to their ancestral lands.

In contrast, the other options reflect different aspects of Native American policy but do not align with the primary objective of the Dawes Act. Establishing educational programs, promoting self-governance, or increasing reservation lands were not the focus of the Dawes Act, which instead concentrated on land allotment and assimilation.