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Difficulty: MediumWestward Expansion and American Indians

"It makes little difference where one opens the record of the history of the Indians; every page and every relation has its dark stain. The treaty-making policy of the United States has been a series of violations of faith... and yet, we are told that the Indian is a savage, who cannot be civilized, and who must be swept from the path of progress."
— Helen Hunt Jackson, *A Century of Dishonor*, 1881

Which of the following was a major consequence of the reform sentiment expressed in the excerpt?

  1. A
    The passage of federal legislation aimed at preserving traditional Native American tribal structures and collective land holdings
  2. The acceleration of federal policies aimed at assimilating Native Americans by breaking up communal tribal landsAnswer
  3. C
    The immediate adoption of a strict laissez-faire policy by the federal government, leaving western land development entirely to private individuals without government intervention
  4. D
    The formation of the Populist Party, which focused primarily on advocating for the return of Native lands to their original tribal owners

Answer

The acceleration of federal policies aimed at assimilating Native Americans by breaking up communal tribal lands
The correct answer is correct because Helen Hunt Jackson's *A Century of Dishonor* drew public attention to the mistreatment of Native Americans, motivating reformers to advocate for assimilation. This advocacy directly influenced the passage of the Dawes Severalty Act of 1887, which sought to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream American society by breaking up tribal lands into individual family allotments.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus context and perspective.
The excerpt from Helen Hunt Jackson's *A Century of Dishonor* (1881) criticizes the United States government's history of broken treaties and harsh treatment of Native Americans, reflecting a growing reform movement.
Understanding the source helps identify the historical actor's goals: she wanted to improve the treatment of Native Americans but believed in integrating them into American society.
2
Identify the historical consequence of this reform sentiment.
The reform movement led by figures like Jackson pressured the federal government to replace the reservation system with assimilation policies, culminating in the Dawes Severalty Act of 1887.
Connecting the critique of the treaty system to the legislative solution chosen by Congress shows how the ideas were implemented.
3
Evaluate the options against the identified consequence.
The option emphasizing the acceleration of assimilation policies through the division of communal tribal lands directly aligns with the intent and impact of the Dawes Act.
Confirming that the Dawes Act intended to dissolve tribal relations in favor of individual land allotments proves the correct answer.

Key Concept

Assimilation and the Dawes Severalty Act of 1887
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Westward Expansion and American Indians

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