Background information

To help you understand the article “Death by Civilization” by Mary Annette Pember, it is useful to have some background information about the topic.

Native American boarding schools were established in the US during the 19th and 20th centuries, after the passing of the Civilization Fund Act. The Act encouraged society to provide education and civilization for Native American tribes. The whole thing was based on the racist idea that Western civilization was superior to all others, and that removing the children from their own culture was therefore something to be done for their own good. 

The boarding schools for Native Americans were operated by Christian organizations and the government. The government funds were meant to be used for ‘civilizing’ Native American children and teaching them the American way. However, many of the...