Carlisle Indian Industrial School

Definition

The Carlisle Indian Industrial School was an influential boarding school established in 1879 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, aimed at assimilating Native American children into Euro-American culture. The school was part of a broader effort during the Removal and Reservation Eras to eradicate Indigenous identities and promote Western values, education, and labor skills among Native Americans.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Carlisle Indian Industrial School was the first off-reservation boarding school for Native Americans, founded by Captain Richard Henry Pratt.
2. The school's motto, 'Kill the Indian, Save the Man,' reflected its mission to transform Native American students into conforming members of American society.
3. Students at Carlisle were required to abandon their native languages, customs, and clothing, adopting English and Western dress instead.
4. The school had a significant impact on thousands of Native American children who attended from various tribes across the United States, many of whom faced emotional trauma due to separation from their families.
5. Carlisle became a model for other Indian boarding schools across the nation, which continued to operate well into the 20th century, perpetuating the cycle of assimilation and cultural erasure.

Review Questions

• How did the establishment of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School reflect broader trends in U.S. policies towards Native Americans during the Removal and Reservation Eras?
  • The establishment of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School exemplified the U.S. government's shift towards assimilationist policies aimed at Native Americans. During this time, there was a strong belief that Indigenous peoples needed to be 'civilized' through education and forced integration into Euro-American society. This school was part of a wider strategy to dismantle tribal cultures and identities, as students were trained in vocational skills while being stripped of their native languages and traditions.
• In what ways did the curriculum and daily life at Carlisle differ from traditional Native American education practices?
  • At Carlisle, the curriculum emphasized vocational training, English language instruction, and Western cultural values, contrasting sharply with traditional Native American education that focused on oral histories, cultural practices, and community-based learning. Students were subjected to a regimented schedule designed to instill discipline and conformity, which was a stark departure from their previous upbringing that valued communal knowledge sharing and connection to nature. This enforced change was intended to erase Indigenous identities in favor of American norms.
• Evaluate the long-term impacts of Indian boarding schools like Carlisle on Native American communities and their cultural heritage.
  • The long-term impacts of Indian boarding schools like Carlisle have been profound and multifaceted. Many Native American communities experienced significant disruption as children were removed from their homes, resulting in loss of cultural continuity and familial bonds. The policies implemented at these schools led to intergenerational trauma as individuals struggled with identity issues stemming from forced assimilation. However, these experiences also fostered resilience within communities; many Indigenous people today work actively to reclaim their languages and traditions, emphasizing cultural revitalization as a response to the historical injustices faced in such institutions.

Related terms

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

Dawes Act: A law enacted in 1887 aimed at breaking up tribal lands into individual plots for Native Americans, promoting private land ownership and furthering assimilation.

Indian Boarding Schools: A network of residential schools established in the United States with the goal of educating and assimilating Native American children into mainstream American culture.