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Difficulty: MediumWestward Expansion and American Indians

"The language of instruction in all the schools must be the English language... Deeming it important that the Indians should, as rapidly as possible, be prepared for citizenship, the Department has directed that the English language, and that only, shall be used in all schools, whether government or contract, under its control... To teach the Indian children to read and write in their own language is to perpetuate their traditional culture and keep them in a state of dependency."

— J.D.C. Atkins, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Annual Report, 1887

Which of the following best describes the primary goal of the federal policy discussed in the excerpt?

  1. A
    Upholding a strict laissez-faire approach by allowing Native American communities to manage their own educational systems without government intervention
  2. B
    Preserving tribal sovereignty by helping Native Americans transition to self-governing reservations
  3. Promoting the cultural assimilation of Native Americans into white American societyAnswer
  4. D
    Preparing Native Americans to join rural Populist organizations fighting against corporate railroad monopolies

Answer

Promoting the cultural assimilation of Native Americans into white American society
The correct answer is correct because the Commissioner's mandate for English-only education specifically states that teaching Native languages 'perpetuates traditional culture' and keeps Native Americans in dependency, indicating that the policy's primary goal was to eradicate native cultures and force assimilation into white American society.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source excerpt from 1887.
The Commissioner of Indian Affairs mandates English-only instruction in schools to prepare Indians for citizenship and prevent the perpetuation of their traditional culture.
This establishes that the intent of the policy is to alter the cultural practices of Native American children.
2
Relate the source to the broader historical context of the late nineteenth century (1865–1898).
Identify that federal policy during this period shifted toward systematic assimilation, exemplified by boarding schools (like Carlisle) and land allotment policies (like the Dawes Act).
This context aligns the specific educational mandate with the overall federal objective of Americanization.
3
Evaluate the choices to determine which matches the primary goal.
The goal of eliminating traditional languages to foster citizenship is cultural assimilation.
This allows us to identify the correct choice.

Key Concept

Federal policies of assimilation and Americanization of Native Americans
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Topics

Westward Expansion and American Indians

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