Final answer:
In 1887, theological debates focusing on the civilization policies towards Native Americans took place, later reflecting in the practices of Native American boarding schools and eventually leading to legislative actions such as the Indian Religious Freedom Act and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Theological Debate on Native Americans
In 1887, the Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Indians and Others of North America ordered theologians to discuss the topic of the civilization policies towards Native Americans. This debate was part of a broader effort to incorporate Native Americans into American society through means such as industrial training and religious conversion, which was evident in the policies of Native American boarding schools. As reflected in the testimony by Merrill Gates at the 1891 Lake Mohonk Conference, the prevailing attitude was one of transforming Native American life by altering cultural practices and imposing Euro-American values and labor expectations. The long-term effects of such policies have been subject to scrutiny, with the Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 being enacted to address and correct some of the injustices of past civilization policies.