In the 18th century, education was largely community-driven, with children taught in various informal settings. The federal government intervened in 1819 to fund efforts to educate Native Americans through the Civilization Fund Act, which aimed to assimilate them. Reports of abuse emerged from these boarding schools, prompting President Biden's 2024 apology. By the late 19th century, public education gained prominence, seeing a significant increase in attendance from 1830 to 1870, marking a shift towards organized public schooling in the U.S.
During the 19th century, public schools became more common, increasing from 55% attendance in 1830 for ages 5-14 to 78% by 1870.
The 1819 Civilization Fund Act provided federal funds to 'benevolent societies' for educating Native American children, aiming to assimilate them into European-American culture.
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