Final answer:
Assimilation, when applied to the Five Civilized Tribes, refers to the process of adopting the characteristics and practices of the dominant American culture. The tribes acculturated to American society, but this intensified the desire of white settlers for Indian land, resulting in the Trail of Tears.
Step-by-step explanation:
Assimilation, when applied to the Five Civilized Tribes, refers to the process by which members of these tribes adopted the characteristics and practices of the dominant American culture. The tribes, including the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole, acculturated to American society by adopting a written constitution, developing their own newspaper, and engaging in activities common to the average American, such as owning plantations and slaves and growing cotton. This process of assimilation, however, intensified the desire of white settlers for Indian land, leading to the forced removal and relocation of these tribes in what became known as the Trail of Tears.