Leiden University Student Repository

Moerland, Stefanie (2020)

Assimilation Strategies at the Carlisle Indian Industrial Boarding School: A Project of US Cultural Hegemony

Bachelor thesis | International Studies (BA)

During the late 19th and mid 20th centuries, Native American boarding schools were implemented throughout the United States and Canada. Within the boarding school system, assimilative strategies were implemented. This study primarily analyzes the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. It asks: To what extent does an analysis of the Carlisle Indian Industrial boarding school demonstrate strategies and a U.S. hegemonic project of assimilation of Native Americans into the dominant culture? Based on a review of the literature on systematic racism in US educational systems and the theory of Hegemony data was analyzed. The results indicate that the current debate on Native American boarding schools entails many different experiences, values, and cultural aspects. Native American students were, upon return, more linguistically assimilated. In addition, many former Native American students experience issues related to mental health, alcohol, substance abuse and family related problems. Based on...Show moreDuring the late 19th and mid 20th centuries, Native American boarding schools were implemented throughout the United States and Canada. Within the boarding school system, assimilative strategies were implemented. This study primarily analyzes the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. It asks: To what extent does an analysis of the Carlisle Indian Industrial boarding school demonstrate strategies and a U.S. hegemonic project of assimilation of Native Americans into the dominant culture? Based on a review of the literature on systematic racism in US educational systems and the theory of Hegemony data was analyzed. The results indicate that the current debate on Native American boarding schools entails many different experiences, values, and cultural aspects. Native American students were, upon return, more linguistically assimilated. In addition, many former Native American students experience issues related to mental health, alcohol, substance abuse and family related problems. Based on these conclusions, future studies should address the evolvement of the assimilation process, and to what extent Native American culture is being maintained.Show less

Native American Boarding Schools

Systematic racism

US history

Assimilation

Hegemony

19th century

Author

Moerland, Stefanie

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

North America

Supervisors

Van Kessel, Looi

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en