We'll Even Give You a Homestead!

Post-Civil War legislation changed Native Americans from sovereign entities to wards of the state, allowing the federal government to impose its will on all aspects of Indian life. From 1871, Indians were classified as "children" with the US as the role of stern, just parent. No longer were treaties necessary, no longer were annuities necessary in payment for land. Economic and public protest over the cost of maintaining and supporting the Indians was heard nationwide.

Reformers sincerely hoped that Indians would improve their life by farming. In 1887, the Dawes Severalty Act supporting land speculators, sod busters and cattlemen, was passed which divided reservations into individual holdings with each Indian family receiving 160 acres. All the land that was left over could be sold by the federal government, supposedly providing funds to support the Indians.

With the Dawes Act, no Indian would be granted full title to his holding until 25 years had passed. In the meantime, he could not sell without official permission. Those Indians which agreed to take up a homestead and renounce their tribal allegiance would become US citizens. Many Indian families were forced to sell their holding for pennies on their worth to white land speculators and ended up with nothing. Along with reduced land holdings came shrinking allotments of food, clothing and supplies.

After being robbed of millions of acres by Congress, Indians were now instructed to provide more of their own food, clothing and supplies in even smaller areas. In 1889-1890 drought swept the West. In the Dakota reservation starvation and disease were widespread. The time had come for the last rebellion of hope - the Ghost Dance and the last bid for freedom - Wounded Knee.

 Next time...A New Religion on the Plains

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Today in Pioneer History: "On March 8, 1893, Emmet Dalton, the only survivor of the Dalton Gang’s disastrous attempt to rob two Kansas banks, begins serving a life sentence in the Kansas State Penitentiary.