Historical Background: The Dawes Act (General Allotment Act of 1887)
The Dawes Act...
Indian Allotments on the Rosebud Reservation, 1903
(from the Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Archives)
Fractionation:
A Serious Problem Facing Communities
Original Allotment
100 acres
2nd Generation
1/3
3rd Generation
1/9
4th Generation
1/27
5th Generation
1/81
6th Generation
1/243
An illustration depicting fractionation of a possible allotment of
land over six generations, assuming only three heirs per generation.
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Read More: Why Is Land Consolidation Important?