The indian appropriations act of 1871 encouraged assimilation with the provision that

The Indian Appropriations Act of 1871 encouraged assimilation with the provision that all Indians should be treated as individuals and legally designated "wards" of the federal government.

The act also established that no Indian nation or tribe would be recognized as an independent nation, tribe, or power with whom the U.S. may contract by treaty and it also declared that the state had no obligation to respect any treaty made with them prior to March 3, 1871.

The document basically left the Indians in a very disadvantageous position, therefore the provision that stated that all of them should be treated as individuals and wards of the state (meaning that they would be under the state's protection) intended to encourage assimilation, and counteract the misfortune of losing their lands' rights and not being taken in account.

The Indian Appropiation Act contained several acts enacted by the US Congress between the late 19th century and the early 20th century.

One of the most outstanding acts was the Indian Appropriations Act from 1871. According to it, Indians would not be treated anymore as an "independent nation, tribe, or power". In turn, Indians would be considered as "wards" of the federal goverment. This provision considers Indians somehow like children, as if they needed a tutor.

From this moment onwards, the US goverment did not have to mantain endless negotiations to sign treaties with the different Indian tribes. Also treaties that had been signed before the Act were not enforceable anymore.

The act made much easier for the US government to exercise control over lands which were previously dominated by the Indians.