<P> During the early 19th century, as the eastern settlers of the United States felt the desire to explore westward, the natives were caught in the middle of things . Eastern Indian tribes were forced out of their homelands to barren areas that contained fruitless soils, though they had a prosperous relationship beforehand . The reason given to justify the Indian removal stated by Thomas Jefferson was to, "give them a space to live undisturbed by white people as they gradually adjust to civilized ways". Though a problem occurred where westward expansion was on the rise and areas in the west were becoming full with settlers and the lands that Natives resided on (Nebraska and Kansas territories) ended up being taken from them by the government and given to settlers . Treaties were signed by the natives of the area, stating they accepted the downsized reservations or allotments, although their allotments were usually sold to the white settlers by force . The outcome of this removal devastated the Natives, and cost them their tribal identity and independence . </P> <P> In 1887, the United States Congress passed the General Allotment Act, which is considered one of the earliest attempts aimed toward assimilation of Native tribes . This act intended to give Natives a sense of land ownership as well as integrate an agricultural lifestyle with the tribes, much like that of the Americans and Europeans . Under the General Allotment Act, tribal lands were no longer under the control of tribal governments; instead, the land was under the control of individual land owners . </P> <P> This period of allotment over tribal lands became known as the, "Allotment and assimilation era", mainly because the main goal of allotting tribal land was to Americanize Native peoples into mainstream society . The notion that Native peoples could live their lives according to traditional practices and teachings on the reservation was forbidden, thus, assimilation became the epitome of federal Indian policy . </P> <P> The BIA was used during this time to keep a commanding hold of all aspects of Native life, thus upholding the goal of "civilizing" natives . </P>

What was the main goal of federal indian policy from the late 1800s through world war 2