What did the termination policy mean?

The termination policy, enacted in the 1950s by the U.S. government, aimed to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream society by ending the special relationship between tribes and the federal government. It sought to terminate the federal recognition of tribes and dissolve their reservations, pushing Native Americans towards urban living and individual land ownership. This policy was met with significant resistance and had detrimental effects on Native communities, leading to a loss of cultural identity and economic hardships. Ultimately, it was largely abandoned in the 1960s in favor of policies that supported tribal sovereignty and self-determination.