A Level History - America - Practice Exam

What was the role of the Bureau of Indian Affairs?

1. To promote Native American culture in schools

2. To oversee land transactions between tribes and settlers

3. To educate Native American children in American values

4. To enforce military treaties with Native tribes

The correct answer is: To educate Native American children in American values

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) was established primarily to manage the affairs of Native American tribes and their relations with the United States government. One of its significant functions has been to educate Native American children in what were often referred to as American values. This involved creating boarding schools where Native American children were taught English, Christianity, and American culture, frequently at the expense of their indigenous identities and languages. The underlying goal was assimilation into mainstream American society, which is a notable aspect of the historical approach taken towards Native Americans during this period. While the other options touch on important aspects of the Bureau's role, such as land transactions and treaty enforcement, they do not encapsulate the specific focus on education and cultural assimilation that characterized much of the BIA's work. The BIA sought to integrate Native American populations into a Euro-American framework, profoundly impacting their social structures and cultural practices through education.