While the concept traces its roots back to the earliest efforts to settle the continent, assimilation did not become the driving force behind American policy towards Indian tribes until the 1820s. This was period of time when the young republic flexed its muscles and sought to tame the North American expanse. Having survived its birth by fire and a series of border conflicts, the America of this time was the essence of youthful exuberance--willful and determined to establish a position of dominance. Early efforts to manage economic and diplomatic relations with native tribes were inefficient and did little to stem the tide of discontent among the various native governments. A solution was required. The Office of Indian Affairs was created to manage America’s relations with native tribes and soon provided the perfect vehicle through which assimilation could be administered.
Early Efforts
The bulk of what became America’s assimilation policy grew out of early efforts to “civilize” native tribes. Throughout his presidency, George Washington advocated a government run initiative that provided for the legal protection of Indian sovereignty while at the same time introducing economic opportunities (free trade and property ownership) that challenged traditional Indian values. Gradually, the idea of absorbing Indian tribes into American society became the dominant philosophy among advocates of a stricter policy towards these governments. If “civilized,” native tribes would be less likely to engage in hostile acts against settlers. The objective was to introduce American economic values into native communities and reconstruct them. Few stopped to think just how misguided and culturally biased this concept was.
Teaching the Tribes
To fulfill his vision of an integrated society, Washington sent government agents to live among tribes located west of the Ohio River. Operating in the years before the Office of Indian Trade, this program was the end result of a meeting of the minds between the President George Washington and Secretary of War Henry Knox. Knox felt that continued animosity between the United States and Indian tribes would lead to the eventual destruction of native society. The gradual introduction of both American economic values and agricultural techniques, however, would prevent future bloodshed. Government agents not only supervised trade relations but were vested with the responsibility of teaching agricultural techniques to the tribes they lived among. This was to be the first step of what would be a long, and inevitably culturally devastating, policy of assimilation.
An Ulterior Motive
Knox also believed that in order for native tribes to successfully integrate into American society, they must be taught American (and also Christian) values. This was another popular yet thoroughly misguided belief held by American leaders. In 1819, the U.S. Congress passed the Civilization Fund Act to encourage the development of Indian schools. These schools were mostly established by religious organizations who felt it was important to spread their beliefs among the Indian community. With the establishment of the Office of Indian Affairs, there was now a federal entity to see to that these policies were carried out effectively.
Sources:
Mark M. Boatner III, Encyclopedia of the American Revolution. (Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books, 1994).
Mark C Carnes, Ed. U.S. History. (New York: MacMillan Library Reference, 1998).
Marilyn Miller and Martin Faux, American History Desk Reference. (New York: MacMillan, 1997).
Carl Waldman, Atlas of the North American Indian. (New York: Checkmark Books, 2000).
Carl Waldman, Encyclopedia of Native Tribes. (New York: Checkmark Books, 2006).
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