Question

Nativism refers to the U.S. government policy toward Native Americans during the late 1800s?

Answer 1

Not necessarily. Nativism is a contradictory term. Technically the inhabitants of the united states in the late 1800s were descendants of colonists or immigrants. Nativism would be an attitude towards newcomers (immigrants, specifically the Irish, Germans and such, by the people that were born there. It is somewhat difficult to describe when you consider that nobody is truly native there except for Native Americans.

Answer 2

They're more like people against newcoming immigrants.