Question

question 23 of 76
h3 social studies u.s. history benchmark
use the statement and your knowledge of u.s. history to answer the question below.
the president of the united states... hereby is authorized, wherever in his opinion any reservation or any part thereof... is advantageous for agricultural uses... every indian born within the territorial limits of the united states to whom allotments shall have been made under said act, or under any law or treaty, and every indian born within the territorial limits of the united states who has voluntarily taken up, within said limits his residence separate and apart from any tribe of indians therein, and has adopted the habits of civilized life, is hereby declared to be a citizen of the united states, and is entitled to all the rights, privileges, and immunities of such citizens, whether said indian has been or not, by birth or otherwise, a member of any tribe of indians within the territorial limits of the united states without in any manner impairing or otherwise affecting the right of any such indian to tribal or other property.
—dawes act, 1887
which statement best describes u.s. government policies towards native americans in the late 19th century?
a. reservations were the best way to maintain the cultural identity and customs of the native americans.
b. assimilation through legislation forced native americans to adopt customs similar to the white anglo - saxon protestants.
c. the u.s. government treated tribes as independent units and allowed them to keep large amounts of land.
d. indians desires for the land were ignored by the government as they attempted to make peace with the native americans.

Explanation:

The Dawes Act of 1887 aimed at assimilating Native Americans into white American society by allotting them individual plots of land and encouraging them to adopt White Anglo - Saxon Protestant customs. Reservations were meant to isolate Native Americans, not help maintain their culture (so first option is wrong). The US government did not treat tribes as independent units with large land holdings (second option is wrong). The government's goal was assimilation, not ignoring land desires for peace (fourth option is wrong). So the statement "Assimilated through legislation forced Native Americans to adopt customs similar to the White Anglo - Saxon Protestants" best describes the policy.

Answer:

Assimilated through legislation forced Native Americans to adopt customs similar to the White Anglo - Saxon Protestants (the third option among the given choices, assuming the options are ordered as: 1. Reservations were the best way... 2. The U.S. government treated... 3. Assimilated through legislation... 4. Indians' desires for the land were ignored...)