During the late 1800's immigrant children living in the United States strove to become Americanized, either by choice or through force. “Americanization” is a term used to describe the assimilation of immigrants primarily through education.1 The drawing presented above is one of many from this time period depicting the Americanization of immigrant children, and more specifically, Native American children. This image is stereotypical in a sense, as the common core element is the American flags that the children are waving uniformly through the air. Although not a single child in the line is identical, they are becoming an undifferentiated unit with this mandated patriotism.
Sacrificing your former country’s identity for the identity of your new nation, was seen as a mandatory motion that one must oblige in. Immigrants gave up their faith, their dialect, and ultimately, their identity with hopes of prospering as an American. However, it wasn’t until the mid 1800’s when the term “Americanization” came into full effect. As America became more industrialized, education became more of a necessity rather than a privilege. The American government viewed formal education as the key to molding immigrants into valuable industrial workers that would allow the American economy to flourish. However, Americanization and racism walked hand in hand. The driving force for Americanization and the assimilation of immigrants was the white citizen’s need for consistency and stability. Americans wanted foreigners to assimilate, but they still wanted to be able to assert their dominance by classifying themselves as the “superior race”.2 The American government forced immigrant children to go to school to learn English, with the intent of erasing their native identity and language. Immigrant children's sole purpose was to become as much as an American as was deemed necessary by government officials. The children were forced to go to school everyday to complete tedious English exercises and recitations, and were severely punished if they were heard speaking in their native language, even amongst themselves. The Native American children were even given English names and forced to wear English clothes in order to "kill the indian, and save the man."2 The experience of these schools were very unpleasant, especially for younger children, as they were often forced to separate from their families. Attempts at Native American assimilation eventually died down as Americans gradually became more open to immigration, but the struggle to properly fit Native American identity into American culture is still prominent today.
1Wells, H. G. The Future in America: A Search after Realities. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1906.
2Marr, Carolyn. "Assimilation Through Education: Indian Boarding Schools in the Pacific Northwest." ::: American Indians of the Pacific Northwest Collection :::. Accessed December 3, 2014. https://content.lib.washington.edu/aipnw/marr.html.
Sacrificing your former country’s identity for the identity of your new nation, was seen as a mandatory motion that one must oblige in. Immigrants gave up their faith, their dialect, and ultimately, their identity with hopes of prospering as an American. However, it wasn’t until the mid 1800’s when the term “Americanization” came into full effect. As America became more industrialized, education became more of a necessity rather than a privilege. The American government viewed formal education as the key to molding immigrants into valuable industrial workers that would allow the American economy to flourish. However, Americanization and racism walked hand in hand. The driving force for Americanization and the assimilation of immigrants was the white citizen’s need for consistency and stability. Americans wanted foreigners to assimilate, but they still wanted to be able to assert their dominance by classifying themselves as the “superior race”.2 The American government forced immigrant children to go to school to learn English, with the intent of erasing their native identity and language. Immigrant children's sole purpose was to become as much as an American as was deemed necessary by government officials. The children were forced to go to school everyday to complete tedious English exercises and recitations, and were severely punished if they were heard speaking in their native language, even amongst themselves. The Native American children were even given English names and forced to wear English clothes in order to "kill the indian, and save the man."2 The experience of these schools were very unpleasant, especially for younger children, as they were often forced to separate from their families. Attempts at Native American assimilation eventually died down as Americans gradually became more open to immigration, but the struggle to properly fit Native American identity into American culture is still prominent today.
1Wells, H. G. The Future in America: A Search after Realities. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1906.
2Marr, Carolyn. "Assimilation Through Education: Indian Boarding Schools in the Pacific Northwest." ::: American Indians of the Pacific Northwest Collection :::. Accessed December 3, 2014. https://content.lib.washington.edu/aipnw/marr.html.