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Difficulty: MediumWestward Expansion and American Indians

"The reservation system is a constant obstacle to the civilization of the Indian... We believe that the Indian should be prepared for citizenship by the division of their lands in severalty, the establishment of schools, and the introduction of the laws of the states and territories."
— Proceedings of the Lake Mohonk Conference, 1885

Which of the following federal policies of the late nineteenth century was most directly aligned with the goals expressed in the excerpt?

  1. A
    The negotiation of treaties guaranteeing permanent communal ownership of the Great Plains
  2. The passage of the Dawes Severalty Act, which divided communal tribal lands into individual plotsAnswer
  3. C
    The establishment of the reservation system as a permanent means to safeguard tribal independence
  4. D
    The implementation of educational curricula in boarding schools designed to preserve tribal languages

Answer

The passage of the Dawes Severalty Act, which divided communal tribal lands into individual plots
The correct answer is correct because the Lake Mohonk Conference advocated for the assimilation of Native Americans through the division of reservation land into individual allotments, which was realized with the passage of the Dawes Severalty Act of 1887.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus document from the Lake Mohonk Conference (1885).
The document calls for the dissolution of the reservation system, the division of tribal lands 'in severalty' (individual ownership), and the assimilation of Native Americans into the U.S. legal and educational systems.
To identify the core reform philosophy of the advocates of assimilation in the late nineteenth century.
2
Recall federal policies regarding Native Americans in the Gilded Age (1865-1898) that matched this philosophy.
The Dawes Severalty Act of 1887 was the primary legislative effort to end tribal land ownership and distribute it to individual families.
To connect the reformers' goals with actual federal legislation.
3
Evaluate the options to find the policy that directly implemented the division of communal lands and assimilation.
The Dawes Severalty Act is the correct policy, while reservations, treaty guarantees, and preservation of Native languages run counter to the goals stated in the source.
To confirm the correct historical development aligned with the stimulus.

Key Concept

Westward Expansion and American Indians
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Topics

Westward Expansion and American Indians

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