Dawes Act of 1887 was passed by the United States Congress to break up tribal landholdings of American Indians into small property units. It was also known as the General Allotment Act. Each eligible head of an American Indian household received 160 acres (65 hectares) of land. Most single Indians got 40 acres (16 hectares) or 80 acres (32 hectares). Land that remained after all the Indians had received their shares was sold to whites, thus providing more land for settlement.