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Natives Americans and the Dawes Act

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Alice Fletcher was a pioneer ethnologist and leader in the movement to bring Native Americans into the mainstream of white society. Why does Alice see the Dawes Act as the "Magna Carta" for the Native Americans?
How do Native Americans accept the Dawes Act? What are their primary issues or complaints concerning the act and what is the final impact of the Dawes Act on Indian populations?

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Solution Summary

This solution discuses the Dawes Act and what it means to Native Americans.

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Alice Fletcher was a 19th century anthropologist and ethnologist whose paternalistic interest in improving the lot of Native Americans had a missionary bent. She lived among the Native Americans in the plains and worked to gain rights on their behalf.

In order to answer the question, "Why did Alice Fletcher see the Dawes Act as a Magna Carta for the Native Americans?," we have to think about the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta was issued by King John of England in 1215 and offered protection to people from illegal imprisonment, access to speedy justice as well as a protection of individual rights and freedoms. The document enumerated the powers of Parliament and specified legal rights. The ...

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