The objective of the Dawes Act was to assimilate Native American Indians into mainstream US society by annihilating their cultural and social traditions. The land allotted to the Indians included desert or near-desert lands unsuitable for farming. In addition, the techniques of self-sufficient farming were much different from their tribal way of life. Many Indians did not want to take up agriculture, and those who did want to farm could not afford the tools, animals, seed, and other supplies necessary to get started. There were also problems with inheritance. Often young children inherited allotments that they could not farm because they had been sent away to boarding schools. Multiple heirs also caused a problem; when several people inherited an allotment, the size of the holdings became too small for efficient farming.
"While capitalism and imperialism have been closely linked in the minds
of many, the truth is that the two systems are at odds with one another.
Where one system flourishes, the other cannot. Many negative things,
such as political corruption, the exploitation of the poor, and mass
famines, have been blamed on capitalism, but that blame is misplaced.
Real capitalism should work to improve circumstances for the poor by
voluntary exchange, but imperialism hurts the poor by political or
military domination that enables countries or government-backed
businesses to profit at others’ expense."-Learn liberty
It was 1/2 of the united states total land.
