What were the causes and effects of the Dawes act?

The Dawes Severalty Act, 8 February 1887, was an attempt to make Indians into Whites. All Indian tribal land was converted into private land under individual Indian ownership. There are many effects but the most damaging was the destruction, (attempted destruction) of the Tribe as an important part of Indian culture. The attempt was to get the individual Indian to look to the state and national government, and drop allegiance to the Tribal law.