Richard Henry Pratt

Definition

Richard Henry Pratt was a U.S. Army officer and the founder of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, which opened in 1879. He is best known for his controversial philosophy of 'Kill the Indian, Save the Man,' advocating for the assimilation of Native Americans into mainstream American culture through education and training.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Richard Henry Pratt served in the U.S. Army during the Indian Wars and was deeply influenced by his experiences with Native American tribes, particularly the Southern Plains tribes.
2. The Carlisle Indian Industrial School became a model for over 150 similar institutions that aimed to educate and assimilate Native American children across the United States.
3. Pratt's approach to education included strict discipline and an emphasis on manual labor and vocational training, with the intent to prepare students for life in white society.
4. Pratt's motto, 'Kill the Indian, Save the Man,' reflects his belief that Indigenous identity needed to be eradicated to achieve success in American society.
5. The impact of Pratt's philosophy led to significant trauma within Native communities, as many children were separated from their families and faced harsh treatment at boarding schools.

Review Questions

• What were the main principles behind Richard Henry Pratt's approach to Native American education at Carlisle, and how did they reflect broader societal attitudes toward Native Americans?
  • Richard Henry Pratt believed in assimilating Native Americans into mainstream American culture, which he expressed through his motto 'Kill the Indian, Save the Man.' This approach emphasized educating Native children in a way that stripped them of their cultural identities and promoted vocational training to make them more like white Americans. His principles reflected a pervasive belief in the superiority of Western culture and a desire to erase Indigenous traditions, which were viewed as obstacles to progress.
• Discuss how Richard Henry Pratt's work at Carlisle influenced other boarding schools for Native Americans across the United States.
  • Richard Henry Pratt's establishment of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School set a precedent for numerous other boarding schools aimed at educating Native American children. His methods of strict discipline, vocational training, and cultural assimilation became hallmarks of these institutions. As a result, over 150 similar schools were founded, all following Pratt's model of attempting to erase Indigenous identities in favor of assimilation into white society, leading to widespread cultural disruption among Native communities.
• Evaluate the long-term consequences of Richard Henry Pratt's educational policies on Native American communities and their cultural identities.
  • The long-term consequences of Richard Henry Pratt's educational policies have been profound and damaging for Native American communities. By enforcing assimilation through boarding schools like Carlisle, many Indigenous children experienced trauma from separation from their families and cultures. This led to a generational loss of cultural identity and language, as traditional practices were discouraged or outright forbidden. The legacy of these policies continues to affect Native communities today, as they grapple with issues related to cultural preservation, identity reclamation, and healing from historical trauma.

Related terms

Carlisle Indian Industrial School:

The first government-run boarding school for Native American students, founded by Richard Henry Pratt in Pennsylvania, aimed at assimilating Native Americans into white society.

Assimilation: The process by which individuals or groups from one culture adopt the practices and values of another, often leading to a loss of their original cultural identity.

Boarding Schools: Educational institutions where students live on-site, often used historically to forcibly educate Native American children away from their families and cultures.