What did the Dawes Act aim to do to tribal mentalities?

The Dawes Act, enacted in 1887, aimed primarily to break up the communal tribes' landholdings and promote individualism among Native Americans. The legislation sought to assimilate Native Americans into American society by allotting them individual plots of land rather than recognizing their communal living and social structures. By providing individual land ownership, the Act intended to weaken tribal affiliations and encourage a mindset focused on personal responsibility and individual success, reflecting the broader American values of individualism. This shift was deemed essential by policymakers of the time, who believed that communal living was at odds with the aspirations of American progress and integration into mainstream society. This focus on individual ownership directly undermined the collective identity and social cohesion that characterized many tribes, thereby working against traditional tribal mentalities.

The other options focus on preserving communal bonds, cultural heritage, or strengthening governance, all of which contrast with the goals of the Dawes Act. The Act was fundamentally opposed to reinforcing tribal unity and aimed instead to dismantle such structures.