What was a major outcome of the Dawes Act?

• A. It expanded tribal reservations
• B. It broke up tribal lands and promoted individual land ownership
• C. It granted citizenship to all Native Americans immediately
• D. It ended federal policy toward Native Americans

Answer: (B)

The major idea behind the Dawes Act is that it shifted policy from communal tribal landholding to individual ownership. It divided tribal lands into individual allotments for Native Americans and set aside the remaining land to be sold to non-Natives. This promoted private property and assimilation, but it massively reduced the land held by Native communities and weakened tribal sovereignty. It wasn’t about expanding reservations or automatically granting citizenship to all Native Americans; citizenship came later for those who accepted allotments, and federal policy continued in other forms after this act. So, the best answer is that it broke up tribal lands and promoted individual land ownership.