Cristina Savaglio Prof. Di Lorenzo History 203 24 November 2014 The Genocide of the Native Americans Early European colonization of the Americas was initially marked by both exchange and conflict. When the English colonists arrived in the Americas most Indian tribes welcomed them. Many Indians believed the settling colonists would assist in protecting their tribe from other powerful tribes in the area, because the colonists had access to weapons. In exchange for this added protection, the Indians generously shared many of their belongings, supplies, food, and skills necessary for survival, since the colonists were not experienced with hunting or understanding the land. The Indians thought these newcomers were the best thing to happen …show more content…
The Native Americans resented the religious teachings, and thus resisted the colonists’ attempts at major change. The Indians refusal to conform to Christianity is what started the initial hostility between the two groups. Once the anger and resentment grew, the conflicts also grew. The English colonists believed the Indians were not using the land and all of its resources in an effective manner. The Indians would use the land for hunting, but the colonists felt that the Indians should establish business enterprises, such as farming, and use the land in a more profitable manner. The colonists desired that the Indians sell their land to them, and migrate to different territories, so they could start constructing their farming enterprises. It was clear that the colonists were motivated by profit. When the Indians refused to leave and sell their land, it created another conflict between the two groups. According to Ronald Takaki’s book, “A Different Mirror”, the removal of the Cherokee tribe from their ancestral land, was one example of the colonists ordering a tribe away from what was rightfully theirs. The settlers forcefully asked the Cherokee tribe to either subjugate to the man’s white rule, or migrate to a different territory. Naturally, the Cherokee people didn’t want to become accustomed to the white man’s ways, and further, they refused to leave the land of their ancestors. The colonists would not take “no”
As many Americans settled in Indian territories and around Indian tribal areas, the settlers brought their religion of Christianity with them. Based on their Bible, Christians saw the Indian religious practices as paganism, so the settlers converted the Indians to Christianity either by influence or force. So many tribes were changed from their multi-god religion to Christianity. Indians began to lose their own culture.
From the moment Jamestown was founded, John Smith and his men fought the Powhatan Chief and his people, and there were constant battles and skirmishes as time went on and the colonies expanded. Seventy years after Jamestown was founded fights with Indians on the border of Virginia continued, and since the Virginian Governor Berkeley refused to fight back, it prompted Bacon’s Rebellion. This intolerance of Natives not only kept the southerners from forming alliances with the Natives, it set them against the others in fear and prejudice that only led to more fighting. Contrastly, the first New Englanders, the Pilgrims who landed in Plymouth, made peace with the Indians. Instead of intermittent skirmishes, they were given shelter when needed and agricultural methods that would help them survive, along with important trade alliances. This help allowed the Pilgrims to survive and prosper in this new land. Though their relations with the Native Americans went south in what led up to King Philip’s War, the former cordiality with them helped the colonists lay the foundation of New England. Since they were kinder to the Natives, the colonists of New England traded information and goods and create relationships with them that helped them establish their colonies, which the Chesapeake colonists never
As the Europeans came to the New World in the 1600s, relationships with Native Americans were unstable in some places and secure in others. In the Chesapeake region, every colony had a different relationship with the Native Americans but overtime both groups became distanced from each other as wars erupted. Furthermore, in the New England colonies there were a few places that had close relationships with them and others that opposed the Native Americans. During the colonization periods, although the Europeans may have been disruptive to a few Native American tribes, they continued to trade and have alliances with a few tribes, which contributed to their survival in the New World. Throughout the time of colonization, as more people
There were a variety of key factors that have led to the removal of the Cherokee Indians. One of the key factors that had promoted the removal of the Indians was the belief system of Manifest Destiney. The young colonists believed it was their mission from God to use the land given to them to the fullest. The colonists also believe they are to spread Democracy. This belief system caused the Cherokee Indians to lose most their land. The settlers annexed Florida from the Spanish not only because of their neglect, but they wanted to defeat the Native Americans. They wanted the large farmland they had in Florida. The Black Hawk War in the North caused the removal of many Sauk Indians to Kansas from Wisconsin and Minnesota. Regardless if the land was purchased Indians, the Americans believed they were entitled to all the land on the continent. They lost land through battle, treaties, and were forced to hand over land if they wanted the colonists support. A key factor of the Indian removal was the adoption of European culture. As many assimilated to the European culture, they were faced with prejudice
Beginning in the Sixteenth Century, Europeans sought to escape religious and class persecution by engaging on a journey to the New World. However, they were unaware that this “New World” was already inhabited by many groups of Native Americans, who had been established on the continent for thousands of years. At first, the two ethnic groups lived in relative peace. The colonists of Jamestown survived due to Powhatan’s tribe teaching them how to cultivate the land. However, things took a twisted turn as the colonists grew greedy. Due to cultural differences, there was stark tension between the Indian groups and European settlers in New England prior to 1750, which tremendously influenced early political means, social life, and the economy.
Coming from an economic standpoint, the Europeans and Indians were such total opposites, it often led to misunderstanding. Indians had very large trading routes well before the time of European colonization. Their experience in trade only made it easier to exchange goods with the Europeans. For Indians, trading was a way to acquire goods they wanted, but also a way to share the wealth of their land with other tribes that didn't have the same items to trade as they did. To the
The English colonists initially believed that they would discover fertile and mineral rich lands, similar to the Inca empire; however, instead, they found disease, starvation, and native populations who were sparse, thus, colonists had to largely create communities on their own, however, when they had relations with Indians, they exploited them for their game and corn.
Europeans came to the Americas for many different reasons. Religious freedom, adventure, gold, new opportunity, and land are a few of them. Perhaps the most serious was the different way that Europeans and Native Americans thought about land. Land was extremely important to European settlers because land meant wealth, in which they established many communities where they lived and worked. Many of the settlers in the new country could have never owned land in Europe because they were too poor. The Native Americans believed that no one could own land. They
There are many reasons that the Europeans and the Native Americans didn’t get along. In the works that I have examined and read throughout this module, the relationship amongst these two groups had not been a good one from the beginning. The main reason for conflict between the Europeans and the Native Americans, it seems, was the Europeans greed and desire for land and power.
"I don 't feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from them. There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves."- John Wayne. Even though John Wayne was greatly mistaken, he is entitled to his opinion. There are also others like John Wayne who feels this way towards Native Americans. However I am not one of those people who agree with John Wayne. The brutal extract of the Native Americans in the United States was not only unjustified, it also tremendously impacted later generations.
Many prominent historians argue a clash between culture and religious philosophy was the primary cause of conflict between European settlers in North America and Native Americans. However, a closer analysis of American history suggests otherwise. While a clash in cultures and religious differences did exist, the European domination of Native Americans was primarily fueled by European economic motivations, a desire for valuable natural resources and a craving to expand the American colonial system. Due to this, the conflict was inevitable.
At first, the attitudes and polices of the Americans desired to integrate the Indians, but after the American Revolution, those things started to change for the Indians (particularly those associated with the tribes who actually did fight against the Patriots) who were perceived as enemies just like the British were. People like Thomas Jefferson viewed the Indians as “noble savages”. Jefferson felt the only way they could vindicate themselves, was if they chose to live and adapt to the ways of the white man. Jefferson wanted them to live the agricultural lifestyle the rest of the country was living. The Indians did not have any interest in this way of life and preferred to continue on with their own traditions and culture. Events and like the Black Hawk War, the First Seminole War, the Second Seminole war, confrontations with Tecumseh’s Confederation, the Creek Wars, scalping, massacres at forts like Mims and other events attributed to this change. Greed for the land and concern for how the Indians would fare in society played a part also. The Indians had two options; they could
In 1620, the first batch of European settlers come to New England area. They are hoping to live peacefully with Indians since the settlers demand to receive food and supplies from the Indians. Meanwhile, the new immigrants clearly understand that they are weak and inferior. Once if they have conflicts with Indians, they have no chance to win the battle. Another major reason that French and Britain need to ally with Native Americans in the early 17th century is because the idea of mercantilism. Since they believe that the wealth of nation should mainly from trading, both nations want to have more profit from fur trading. European settlers and Indians also exchange crops, tools, and know-how. Likewise, Indians want the new immigrants to be their allies to defeat enemies in the future days. However, the problems egress inevitably. Because of the largely different beliefs on lands owning and religion, even more migration of population, and external diseases, European settlers and Indians break their peace and enter wars soon after.
The Europeans first came to the Americas looking for riches like gold and land. When they got here they found Native Americans along with land. According to Thomas Hariot and Christopher Columbus, the Indians were poor and easily persuaded. They thought that they could be easily influenced by European culture. Thomas Hariot said “they shoulde desire our friendships and love, and have the greater respect for pleasing and obeying us.” (2-4) Christopher Columbus said “They should be good servants and
The European colonists and the Native Americans of North America had very different views on nearly everything they encountered in their lives. Living in vastly different cultures lead both groups to have two extremely different outlooks on four main topics; religious beliefs, the environment, social relations, and slavery, differences which the colonists used to their advantage when conquering the peoples of the New World.