What was one outcome of the Indian Schools established in the U.S.?

• A. Preservation of Native cultures
• B. Promotion of bilingual education
• C. Forced assimilation into white American culture
• D. Enhanced Native American self-governance

Answer: (C)

The establishment of Indian Schools in the U.S. was primarily aimed at the forced assimilation of Native American children into white American culture. This institutionalized effort sought to eradicate Native languages, traditions, and identities by immersing indigenous students in a Euro-American educational framework. Children were often taken from their families and placed in these schools, where they were forbidden to speak their native languages or practice their cultural customs.

The curriculum was designed to instill Western values, promote individualism over communal ways of life, and prepare Native Americans for roles within a white-dominated society. This approach reflected the broader U.S. governmental policy of assimilation during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which viewed Native cultures as obstacles to progress. The long-term impact of this system was profound, leading to significant cultural losses for many Native American communities and altering the demographic landscape of indigenous populations in the U.S.