What attitude did the Dawes Act promote among Native Americans?

The Dawes Act of 1887 aimed to assimilate Native Americans into American society by promoting individual land ownership rather than collective ownership of land, which is often characteristic of tribal societies. By allotting individual parcels of land to Native American families, the Act encouraged a shift away from communal lifestyles towards a more individualistic approach. This was part of a broader policy intended to integrate Native Americans into the mainstream culture and economic practices of the United States by encouraging them to adopt farming and individual entrepreneurship.

This emphasis on individual land ownership was seen as a way to promote independence and self-sufficiency, aligning with the American ideal of individualism, which values personal freedom and responsibility. As a result, the Dawes Act contributed to the erosion of tribal structures and communal ties, as families became more focused on their individual plots rather than their collective identities as members of a tribe.