1 of 3: "The Curts Act of 1898 dissolved tribal governments in the Indian Territory, replaced them with federal systems, and ended tribal sovereignty by empowering the Dawes Commission to finalize tribal rolls and distribute allotments without tribal consent,
I didn’t realize it was VP Curtis who was the author of that legislation. Unfortunately the leadership of the five “civilized tribes” (many of them predominately mixed bloods) chose the wrong side in the Civil War and their people paid for it for the remainder of the 19th Century.
2 of 3: paving the way for Oklahoma statehood and replacing communal land ownership with individual landholdings and fee-simple ownership of town lots."
3 of 3: Kaw Native American Charles Curtis was a powerful figure in the United States Senate before becoming Vice President to Herbert Hoover. He authored the Curtis Act, but he was unhappy with the final bill as it went far awry of his intent to aid the tribes.