General Allotment Act

The General Allotment Act or Dawes Act was another intent to assimilate Indians by authorizing the breaking up of tribal lands held in federal trust for Indian use and distribute it to individual Indian ownership.  This land was taken out of trust and thus became eligible for state and local tax.  Another attempt to civilize Indians, the General Allotment Act served to break up the communal nature of Indian societies with the hope of having Indians see themselves as individuals like other settlers.