2. Violence Mounting Crisis in the American West – By the 1860s American leaders found it to be the most difficult time in dealing with tribal people they could remember. American violence with tribal people was a result of the natives having strong leaders, strong warrior traditions, and strong attachments to their land. Canada avoided fights with Indians during the first ten years of their existence, but by the mid 1880s, due to the scarcity of buffalo, treaties were formed and disputed over.
3. Assimilation Educating for Enfranchisement Integration into Western culture and the capitalist society was expected of the Indian people. In 1884 the government required school attendenceof all Indian children to wean them from their tribal heritage and cultural identity. Missionaries and Reformers Protestantism served to end tribalism and make Indians assimilate to American society. Almost all reformers were united in this cause, however different methods were explored. Some wanted to give them land, but later, with the 1876 Indian Act, a test was required to prove that they had the skills to deal with white society.
