What did Americanization reveal about white Americans view of Native Americans?
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To understand what Americanization revealed about white Americans' views of Native Americans, we can look at historical evidence and analyze the motives and outcomes of Americanization efforts.
Americanization was a policy that aimed to assimilate Native Americans into the dominant white American culture during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This policy sought to eradicate Native American cultural practices, eliminate tribal affiliations, and force assimilation into Western norms and values. The underlying assumption of Americanization was that Native American cultures were inferior and needed to be replaced by the dominant white culture.
The emergence of Americanization can reveal several aspects of white Americans' view of Native Americans:
1. Cultural Superiority: Americanization demonstrated a belief in the cultural superiority of white Americans over Native Americans. It reflected the belief that white American culture was more advanced, civilized, and desirable. The goal was to erase Native American cultures and replace them with white American norms.
2. Assimilation as a Solution: Americanization reflected the idea that assimilation into white American society would be beneficial for Native Americans. White Americans saw their own culture and way of life as the ideal, and they believed that if Native Americans adopted it, they would be better off.
3. Paternalistic Attitudes: Americanization efforts were often driven by paternalistic attitudes. White Americans viewed themselves as guardians and guides for Native Americans, believing that they needed to "civilize" and "save" them from their own cultures.
4. Denial of Native Sovereignty: Americanization aimed to undermine Native American tribal affiliations and governance structures. It revealed white Americans' disregard for the autonomy and self-determination of Native American tribes, instead favoring assimilation into the larger American society.
It's important to note that attitudes towards Native Americans were complex and varied among white Americans. While some supported Americanization as a means of "uplifting" Native Americans, others were critical of it and advocated for respecting Native American cultures and rights. The views of white Americans on Native Americans were shaped by a combination of prejudice, cultural differences, and political factors, all of which influenced the Americanization policy.
To gain a deeper understanding of this topic, it is recommended to consult historical sources, academic research, and firsthand accounts from both Native American and non-Native American perspectives.
How do you define "Americanization?"
assimilation into American culture
American culture depends upon who is defining it. Native Americans had a much different view of American culture than the immigrants from Europe.
White Americans looked upon the Natives as savages and not worthy of being included in American society.