Figure 1.--Here we see an unidentified boy at a 19th military school with his mother. The studio was Rothwell in Washington, Pennsylvania. The cabinet card is undated, but looks to have been taken in the 1870s. The props are interesting. The boy has a riding crop. His mother has a fan. These military schools were uniquely America and very different from European cadet schools. Given a kind of anti-military feelings in America, it is not at all clear why so many militay schools were founded in America. Despite the outwardly military veneer, the schools had more in common with British public (Private boarding) schools.

Many American schools were founded in the 19th century and quite a number of the boarding schools founded were military schools. Here we are not referring to the military academies. Rather we are talking about schools for school age boys. Most were for secondary age-boys, but there were schools for younger boys as well. Many well-to-do American parents who had no intention of directing their boys into military careers, seem to have thought that military schools offered badly needed discipline as well as helped to direct a boy's friends to those of a similar social strata and shared values. This is interesting, because there was no similar trend in Europe. Private schools in Europe were not generally organized along military lines. Britain had a few charity schools that were. And Austria and Germany had cadet schools, but these were training schools for future military officers. American military schools were not primarily set up to train military officers. In fact, while America had more military schools than all of Europe combined, it only had a very small military and no conscription law. Europe in the early-20th century was involved in a massive arms race in which the United States did not participate. (One of the reasons that many Europeans immigrated to America was the conscription system in the Russian and Austro-Hungarian Empires.) As a result, when World War I began, the United States had virtually no army. When the cUnited States finally declared war on Germany, it would be aear before an army could be built, trained, and commited to battle.

Build an Education System

Many American schools were founded in the 19th century. America had a was a relatively small population, concentrated along the Eastern Seaboard until the 19th century. Education was an important concern of the Protestant groups which founded the northeastern colonies. And from the outset of the Republic, provision was made for public schools in Federal land policy, first in the northern states and ultuimrely in the West. Not only did the country found a fine public school system, but many private schools as well. And as the United States developed an industrial economy, rising economic affluence created an expanded need for private schools as well.

Military Boarding Schools

Quite a number of the boarding schools founded were military schools. Here we are not referring to the military academies. Rather we are talking about schools for school age boys. Most were for secondary age-boys, but there were schools for younger boys as well. Many well-to-do American parents who had no intention of directing their boys into military careers, seem to have thought that military schools offered badly needed discipline as well as helped to direct a boy's friends to those of a similar social strata and shared values.

Students

A British reader writes, "Military Schools seem to be unique American institutions. My perception has always been that these schools were where distraught parents sent their unruly boys for a bit of firm discipline, perhaps a bit unkind. From what families do their intake come? I can imagine that military families would be one source, but I recall seeing many adverts in American Magazines for these Schools. I recall many such ads in National Geographic particularly." This perception is not exclusive to military schools. You here thec same things said of boarding schools in general, in both America and Britain. Actually the intake of military schools is similar to that of a British public (private boarding) school. Remember these are fee paying schools. Thus the boys came primarily from the upper middle class or upper class. Boys in affluent families were iften coddeled. And while the upbringing of younger children was up to the mother, fathers became more important as the boys got older and ready for school. Many fathers saw a need for discipline and toughening up. Military families unless officers with some family wealth could not afford them. Within this context, some unruly boys were sent there. But often the boys were sent there for discipline and toughening up as well as to meet and associate with social peers. This is largely the same reason British parents of comparable social backgrounds sent there boys to the public schools.

Comparison with British Public Schools

American military schools were in many ways compable to British public schools. Some American boarding schools were established in the northeast along the lines od British public schools. But a much larger number of boarding schools were established along the lines of military schools and over a broader geographic base. We see military schools being established in the south and mid-West as well. The boys at some of the Southern schools were committed to battle in the Civil War. We are not sure why so many private schools were organized as military schools. America was not miltaristic. In fact, there was less interest in the milirary in America than virtually any other country. Thus it is surprising that so many boarding schools were founded as military schools. Britain was very important in setting values and cultural trends, especially among well-to-do Americans. That said, there cointinued through much of the 19th cebtury an anti-British ethos. America almost went to war with Britain over the Oregon Territory (1840s) and there was considerablke resentment over British support for the Confederacy during the Civil War (1860s). And even at the the end of the century there was a volitile cdispute over Gutana (1890s). And some of the immigrant groups were strongly anti-British, esoecially the Irish. You see this anti-British sentiment expressed in books like Little Lord Fauntleroy. Even so British culkural trends throughout the century were highly influential in America. This it is a rather surprising that more private schools were not founded along the lines of traditional British public schools. There are of course many similarities between military schools and public schools, but there are also differences. And we are not at all sure why so many private schools in America were founded as public schools. Hopefully readers will have some insights to offer here.

Unique American Trend

This is interesting, because there was no similar trend in Europe. Private schools in Europe were not generally organized along military lines. Britain had a few charity schools that were. There were European military schools. The difference with American military schools, is that most American boys were not sent there to prepare for a military career, but rather for general discipline. Austria, Germany, Russia, and other countries had cadet schools, but these were training schools for future military officers. American military schools were not primarily set up to train military officers. In fact, while America had more military schools than all of Europe combined, it only had a very small military and no conscription law. Europe in the early-20th century was involved in a massive arms race in which the United States did not participate. (One of the reasons that many Europeans immigrated to America was the conscription system in the Russian and Austro-Hungarian Empires.) As a result, when World War I began, the United States had virtually no army. When the cUnited States finally declared war on Germany, it would be aear before an army could be built, trained, and commited to battle.

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Created: 6:23 PM 9/21/2011
Last updated: 6:24 PM 9/21/2011