Indians, Bureaucrats, and Land: The Dawes Act and the Decline of Indian Farming

acres activities agent agriculture allotted land allowed American Indian amount Annual Report appendix areas average become benefits capital cattle Census chapter Civilized closed Commissioner of Indian concluded Congress considered costs course cultivated Dawes Act decades decline discussed economic employed encouraged evidence examined example farmers federal figures Five followed important improved included increased Indian Affairs Indian farming Indian land Indian reservations individual interests irrigated issued labor lease less living ment Meriam Michigan Montana Nebraska non-Indians North noted occurred Office of Indian Oklahoma opened percent percentage period Plains Population position possible problems production programs progress property rights question ranching received reformers region relatively result sell settled settlement shows SOURCE South Dakota successful surplus tion traditional tribal tribe trust United western