Essay Example on Assimilation of Indians: Benefits and Costs

Introduction

Race, ethnicity, and tribe, just like any other social categories, are critical in conferring on those affiliated with a sense of self-identity, belonging, and legitimacy. Based on this understanding, it is crucial to assess the process by the USA to assimilate the Indians. The process has got advantages, yes, but the disadvantages outweigh the benefits, and it can cost those countries involved a great deal. Similarly, the removal act by the United States government leads to factors that mess up the lives of Indian citizens. Most of these people settled in the United States and have productive dreams to achieve; all these become messy and interferes with the future of many families. Other countries are as well not far from experience Native Americans felt. This creative paper revealed the factors that contributed to the change of the tribal life of Indians and how the US government involved in the same. Finally, this review will discuss what exactly happened to Indians who rebelled from assimilation.

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Factors That Accelerated Indians Tribal Life

Many factors changed the tribal culture of Indians. First, the spread of education among Indians played a vital role. Knowledge among Indian students brought civilizations, which made them forgo some cultural values. Similarly, the process of urbanization in which Indians started practicing could not make them withhold cultural traits like hunting. The tribal language spoken by Indians got limited, and in urban areas, they could speak other languages as opposed to their Native Indian one. Communication facilities, primarily which resulted from civilization, could not make Indians retain some of their cultural values as well.

Role of the United States Government into Change of Indians Tribal Life

The government undertook measures that changed the tribal lives of Indians. In the first case, the United States government could not support the cultural education that Native Americans wanted to retain and conduct alongside their knowledge. Besides that, the US government could sponsor and even offer a purely non-cultural education system. The United States government also renounce the gods of Indians, and they could no longer have their cultural way of worship.

This government as well claimed several lands owned by Indians. They started cultivating crops of their interest and benefits; hence the people of India could no longer maintain their traditional farming. The indigenous crops which Indians culturally believed in were not a priority to the Americans, and this led to a flaw in the tribal life of Indians. The government also forced Indians students into boarding schools; they were removed from their respective homes; hence they did not have time to be taught cultural traits from their parents. Nevertheless, the government of the United States insisted on their way of education, which was formal.

What Happened to the Indians Who Refused Assimilation?

Not all Indians could easily accept to get into the white culture. A significant proportion of the Indian population could not collaborate easily, which made Americans use forced assimilation. The method they could use to impose conformity in India include forcing children of Indians to boarding schools to learn the whites culture, catholic missionaries forcing Indians into missions and may other. Unfortunately, the forced assimilation reportedly failed, and various damages started between Americans and Indians, there could be increased sexual as well as physical violence. The same could take in Indians communities. There was underemployment as well as unemployment for the Native Americans. There was an increase in slave labor where Indians could be forced to work in the white settlements.