The Dawes Act and Its Impact on the Cherokee Nation

The transcript discusses the settlement of the Cherokee Nation in Indian Territory and the subsequent impact of the Dawes Act, which was passed in 1887. The act led to the allotment of tribal lands to individual citizens, with surplus lands opened to non-native settlers. The Dawes Commission formalized the enrollment of Cherokee citizens, leading to a checkerboard pattern of land ownership. The process ended in 1907, with significant consequences for the Cherokee people, including land loss and challenges in property management.

What year was the Cherokee Nation completely settled in Indian Territory?

• 1886

• 1896

• 1876

• 1907

Who proposed the Dawes Act?

• Theodore Roosevelt

• Thomas Jefferson

• Andrew Jackson

• Henry L. Dawes

What was the primary goal of the Dawes Act?

• To create new reservations

• To allot land to individual tribal citizens

• To establish new tribal governments

• To preserve tribal lands

How much land was each Cherokee citizen entitled to under the Dawes Commission?

• 20 acres

• 40 acres

• 60 acres

• 80 acres

What was the value of the land allotted to each Cherokee citizen?

• $500.00

• $200.00

• $750.00

• $325.60

What was a common requirement for Cherokee citizens during the enrollment process?

• To relocate to a new area

• To pay a fee

• To give testimonies proving citizenship

• To renounce tribal affiliation

What pattern did the land allotments create across present-day Oklahoma?

• A linear pattern

• A grid pattern

• A checkerboard pattern

• A circular pattern

What often happened to Cherokee land allotments?

• They were combined

• They were expanded

• They were sold or seized

• They were preserved

How many enrollees were listed in the Dawes' final rolls?

• 50,000

• 41,693

• 60,000

• 30,000

What is the significance of the Dawes' rolls for Cherokee Nation citizens today?

• They determine land ownership

• They are the basis for citizenship

• They provide historical records

• They establish tribal laws