Today we will be going back to the early days of the exploration of the Louisiana Purchase and we will be talking about explorers that visited Arkansas during that time period…more specifically, we will be discussing the journey of Henry Schoolcraft. Schoolcraft was a New Yorker who toured Arkansas in 1819 and wrote about his experience with early Arkansans:
Schools are…unknown, and no species of learning cultivated. Children are wholly ignorant of the knowledge of books, and have not learned even the rudiments of their own tongue. Thus situated, without moral restraint, brought up in the uncontrolled indulgence of every passion and without a regard of religion, the state of society among the rising generation in this region is truly deplorable. In their childish disputes, boys frequently stab each other with knives, two instances of which have occurred since our residence here. No correction was administered in either case, the act being rather looked upon as promising trait of character. They begin to assert their independence as soon as they can walk, and by the time they have reached the age of fourteen, have completely learned the use of rifle, the arts of trapping beaver and otter, killing the bear, deer, and buffalo, and dressing skins making mockasons and leather clothes.
Quite the glowing review…today in class we are going to take a look at this passage and dissect it in three questions (it is a Thursday after all).
- What was Schoolcraft’s opinion of Arkansas during the territorial years?
- What act did Schoolcraft describe as “a promising trait of character”? Did he agree with this practice and do you support his stance?
- What does he say most 14 year old boys know how to do? Is this a good or bad thing in your opinion?
Mr. McClung