The Dawes Act

The 1887 passage of the Dawes Act upended this system of communal land ownership and, in doing so, struck a historic blow at Native Americans’ political rights, economic sufficiency, and cultural heritage.
Written by John Bickers. Narration by Dr. Nicholas B. Breyfogle. Video production by Cody Patton, Laura Seeger, and Dr. Nicholas B. Breyfogle. A textual version of this video is available at origins.osu.ed....
This is a production of Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective at the Goldberg Center in the Department of History at The Ohio State University and the Department of History at Miami University. Be sure to subscribe to our channel to receive updates about our videos and podcasts. For more information about Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective, please visit origins.osu.edu.

[@MichaelKilmanAuthor]

Thank you for a clear explanation of the Dawes Act. More people need to learn about the impact on indigenous communities and how it was really just a land grab.

[@robinswampangel]

Henry really said “They’re not selfish enough, I’m more civilized because I only care about myself” with his full chest

[@sano1062]

The purpose of the Dawes Act and Commission was to detribalize Indian tribes while pretending to strengthen the tribes. The secret to the conspiracy was the whole concept of "Blood Quantim". A tribe is a family! There's no such thing as a 1/64th family member. That's why I embrace the Cherokee rejection of Blood Quantim as a criteria for tribal membership. Conversely I also reject tribal membership as a definition of who is a Cherokee. The Cherokees recognize that there are thousands of "Cherokees by blood" who are not members of the tribe. Although, I have relatives that are listed on the Dawes Role I'm not interested in tribal membership being part of the family is enough. The US government defined as Indian as a person living with a tribe on a reservation. A melanated person living off the reservation claiming their indigenous ancestry could be killed on sight. This is the reason that many indians began identifying as negroes. In other cases the government reclassified melanated Indians as negroes, colored or black.

[@JonDoeNeace]

It divided the community. That was the point of doing it. The last decade of the 1800s and 1900s saw the U.S. impose the concept of private land ownership which had previously not existed among the Choctaw and Chickasaw.

[@serinalamson]

I find that true stories that heard as a child is most true to the wannnabeaggo history Michael LA AMOS

[@randallfoltyniewicz7505]

1:50 1:50 1:50 1:50 1:50 1:50

[@albu1168]

Annnnd that's how they stole the rest of the land

[@badwolf73]

File this under “how we got to where we are today”. The people who write laws may die but the legislation they pass lives on to cause problems for future generations.

[@PaulaCollins-Cook-d3t]

Wow were are indigenous...

[@AnastasiaRomanov-w9x]

There is no selfishness in Christianity either, Mr Dawes. Guess you flunked Sunday school.

[@randallfoltyniewicz7505]

us government... what the hell is wrong with you?

[@paulo4940]

It’s called revolution, just like the highland Scottish, native America couldn’t continue the tribal life…it’s called evolution

[@JeylaniOmar-c4x]

This video ain’t it

[@AliAli-ir4vz]

Please explain? How is this video "not it"

[@LeighHouser]

I find it to be informative. Not the most exciting, but definitely makes good connections between systemic attempts to steal land and culture.