According to the authors of the Dawes Severalty Act, what constituted a civilized life for Native Americans in the later nineteenth century?

The Dawes Severalty Act of 1887 was a U.S. law intended to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream American society. According to the authors of the Act, a "civilized life" for Native Americans in the later nineteenth century was defined by several key factors:

1. Land Ownership: The Act broke up communal tribal lands and allotted individual plots of land to Native Americans. This was based on the belief that individual land ownership would encourage Native Americans to adopt a more "civilized" agrarian lifestyle, similar to that of white American farmers.

2. Education: The Act also aimed to "civilize" Native Americans through education. Native American children were often sent to boarding schools where they were taught English and other subjects considered necessary for integration into American society.

3. Abandonment of Native Culture: The Act sought to eradicate Native American cultures, which were seen as "savage" or "primitive". Native Americans were encouraged to abandon their traditional ways of life, including their languages, religions, and social structures, and adopt the ways of white American society.

4. Citizenship: The Act granted U.S. citizenship to Native Americans who accepted the land allotments and "adopted the habits of civilized life". This was seen as a way to fully integrate Native Americans into American society.

In summary, the authors of the Dawes Severalty Act believed that a "civilized life" for Native Americans involved individual land ownership, education in English and other subjects, abandonment of traditional Native American cultures, and acceptance of U.S. citizenship.