7. Allotment and Assimilation Policies
The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw policies like the Dawes Act and the boarding school system, designed to fragment tribal lands and suppress Indigenous cultures. These efforts aimed to dissolve communal governance and force assimilation, often resulting in profound loss and hardship. Yet, Native nations resisted through cultural preservation, legal challenges, and adaptation—ensuring their survival and continuity. To learn more about the impact of these policies, see History.com: Dawes Act.
