What was the purpose of the Dawes Act of 1887 related to Oklahoma?

The Dawes Act of 1887 was designed with the specific purpose of assimilating Native Americans into American society by allotting them individual plots of land. This act aimed to break up communal tribal landholdings and promote individual land ownership as a method of integrating Native Americans into the prevailing Euro-American lifestyle. By assigning individual parcels of land, it was believed that Native Americans would adopt farming practices and other aspects of American culture, moving away from their traditional ways of life.

This act significantly impacted Native American communities, as it sought to undermine traditional tribal governance and social structures in favor of a more individualistic approach to land ownership. The intent behind this policy was rooted in the belief that by encouraging Native Americans to become farmers on their allotted lands, they would become self-sufficient and, ideally, more aligned with mainstream American society.

The other options do not accurately capture the primary intent of the Dawes Act. For instance, establishing sovereign tribal lands was contrary to the act's goals, as it aimed to diminish tribal sovereignty. While promoting agricultural development was a consequence of the act, it was not the primary purpose, which centered around assimilation. Preventing land sales to non-Native settlers also directly contradicted the act's intention, as it ultimately facilitated the