The Dawes Severalty Act of 1877 was based upon native American's rights. After being forced onto reservations, this act allowed natives to own land on those reservations. Because there was very little land on the reservations, there was restrictions on how much land an Indian can own depending on their size of their family and age. The natives also got to pick where their land would be, however if two people picked the same plot of land, it would be divided and then they would also be allowed to pick another piece of land that would equal the land that they lost. This all seems great, but there was more restrictions, including, if you didnt pick your land in 4 years, the government would pick it for you. The native americans were given patents for their land and now were granted protection under the law as well as punishment for crime. In addition, if a native american was no longer associated under a tribe, they would be granted citizenship, for some tribes, like the Sioux and Iroquois, were not given this opportunity. This law shows how the American government wanted to be able to know where and who all of the Indians were in a way making it seem like they were doing something kind.
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