Answer :
Final answer:
Senator Dawes aimed to foster individualism among Native Americans through the Dawes Act, which redistributed tribal lands into individual allotments, promoting assimilation but leading to the loss of communal living and tribal land.
Explanation:
Senator Dawes hoped the General Allotment Act would engender a spirit of individualism in Native Americans. The Dawes Act, also known as the Dawes Severalty Act of 1887, was intended to assimilate Native Americans into American society by dividing communal tribal lands into private individual family plots. Under this act, the remaining lands not allocated to Native Americans were transferred to the federal government, often resulting in the sale to white settlers. While advocates of the Dawes Act considered it a measure to promote self-reliance and improve Native American welfare, it ultimately undermined traditional communal lifestyles and led to a significant loss of tribal land.
