What were the elements of the Dawes Act of 1887?

The Dawes Act of 1887 provided for:

• the President to survey Native American tribal areas and divide the arable land into sections for the individual;
• each Native American to choose his or her own allotment and the family to choose for each minor child;
• the US American agent to certify each allotment and provide two copies of the certification, one to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and one to the Department of the Interior;
• Native Americans not residing on their reservation and Native Americans without reservations to receive an equal allotment
• the Secretary of the Interior to hold the allotments "in trust" for 25 years, and to negotiate under existing treaties for the land not allotted to be purchased ;
• upon completion of the process, the allotment holder will become a United States citizen and "be entitled to all the rights, privileges, and immunities of such citizens".
• water rights on irrigated land;
• exemption of the Five Civilized Tribes and several others from the act;
• appropriation of funds to carry out the act;
• asserting the Power of Eminent Domain of the Congress over the allotments;
• for the Southern Ute Native Americans to move from their present reservation in Southwestern Colorado to a new reservation if a majority of the adult male members wanted so.

By:Kerrin Moravy!