What type of policies did assimilationists advocate for in relation to Native Americans?

Assimilationists believed that Native Americans should adopt European-American culture and values to integrate successfully into mainstream society. They argued for formal education, which included teaching American customs, language, and ways of life, as well as encouraging or compelling conversion to Christianity, viewing it as a means of moral and social improvement.

This approach was based on the belief that Native Americans would benefit from adopting the dominant culture and that this would lead to their social and economic advancement. Various policies, such as the establishment of Indian boarding schools, were implemented to facilitate this assimilation process, aiming to "civilize" Native Americans by stripping them of their native identities and languages.

The other options do not align with the goals of assimilationists. Preservation of Native American culture contradicts their fundamental beliefs, as assimilationists typically viewed Native cultures as obstacles to progress. Isolation policies minimized interaction and dependence on the wider American society, which goes against assimilationist principles. Political autonomy for Native Americans often aligned with a desire for sovereignty and self-determination, which assimilationists opposed, advocating instead for a complete merge into American society.