Shifting Governmental Relationships: Assimilation (Nic Liebl)

The U.S. Federal Government put many policies into place meant to assimilate Indian peoples into the “civilized” Euro-American way of life. Among whites, many viewed Christianity as synonymous with civilization and in 1869 the task of running the reservations was put into the hands of religious groups. One can imagine the intensity at which these groups went about their work to convert the Indian people to Christianity and force them into a “civilized” existence. In extension, Indian children were taken from their families and old way of life and sent to boarding schools where they were conditioned to be “civilized” members of society. What these groups viewed as holy and patriotic was more an arrogant attack on the cultural identity of the Indian people. As a part of the Federal Government’s assimilation policies, this serves as an illustration of the government mentality in its relations with the Indian people.