Assimilation In The 1800s And The Beginning Of The 1900s

1354 Words6 Pages

Assimilation Essay The beginning of the 1800s and the beginning of the 1900s were not much different time periods in terms of Native Americans. During both time periods Native Americans are still struggling with the idea of assimilation. At the beginning of the 1800s, which is main focus of The Cherokee Removal, Native Americans are struggling with was assimilation the right path for them to take or not. At the end of the 1800s, which is the main focus of Talking Back to Civilization, Native Americans are struggling with how to gain rights after assimilation; trying to progress in American society. Both books show how those who chose to assimilate still were never truly considered to be part of American society; no rights were transferred …show more content…

At the beginning of the 1800s, the Native Americans who chose to assimilate were receiving no rights at all and being forced to move away from their land. At the beginning of the 1900s, the Native Americans were well into assimilation and settled into the land they had, it was more about being seen in the public and finding a position in American society. Those who chose to assimilate in the early 1800s did so because it gave them hope of a better life by becoming apart of the American society. Those who chose to assimilate in the early 1900s were more born into the assimilated life and learned about their culture through their ancestry. It was less of an option in the 1900s, Native Americans could embrace their lifestyle but in order to have a voice and take action most chose to become more educated and sophisticated. It was easier to bring about change that way and after a hundred years, the Native Americans began to accept this fact more. In the 1800s the Native Americans did not know much about the white Americans so conforming to their society was much more of a bigger deal then. In the 1900s assimilation had been around for a longer period of time and the younger generations were used to the more American way of