This lesson offers historical background on federal Indian policy from 1870 to 1900, focusing on the Dawes Act of 1887 (with two resources). It provides four primary source documents, including maps of Indian Territory (Oklahoma) and Will Roger's application for enrollment in the Five Civilized Tribes. The lesson relates to the powers granted to the U.S. Congress in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, related to making laws. The lesson correlates to the National History Standards and to the National Standards for Civics and Government. It suggests teaching activities for implementation in the classroom, such as brainstorming, map analysis and comparison, class discussion, document analysis, creative writing, artistic interpretation, and student research projects. Appended are the primary source documents and a map analysis worksheet. (BT)