What was the term used to describe the government's assimilation policies for Native Americans in the late 19th century?

The term "Civilizing Policies" refers to the government's efforts in the late 19th century to assimilate Native Americans into Euro-American culture. These policies were based on the belief that indigenous ways of life were inferior and that Native Americans should adopt Western customs, education, religion, and agricultural practices.

During this period, the U.S. federal government implemented various programs aimed at transforming Native American societies, which included establishing boarding schools where Native American children were forced to abandon their languages and cultural practices. The intention behind these policies was to promote integration into mainstream American society.

The other terms mentioned hold significance in the context of Native American history but are not directly related to the assimilation policies. The Indian Removal Act refers specifically to the forced relocation of Native tribes from their ancestral lands to designated Indian Territory, primarily affecting southeastern tribes. The Trail of Tears is a term that describes the devastating journey of these tribes during their forced removal in the 1830s. The Reservation Act generally relates to the establishment of designated areas for Native American tribes but does not encapsulate the broad goal of cultural assimilation that "Civilizing Policies" signifies.