What was the Indian Homestead Act?
The Indian Homestead Act, more properly known as the Dawes Act, was a piece of legislation passed in the United States in 1887, remaining in effect until 1934. The Dawes Act had far-reaching effects on Native American society and culture, and some people suggest that it contributed directly to the fragmentation and gradual dissolution of many Native American communities. The reasoning behind the Dawes Act was allegedly the protection of Native American people, but many people believe that the Indian Homestead Act was actually deliberately designed to fracture the Indian community in the United States, while also opening up Indian lands to settlement.
