American Indians And The English Settlers example essay topic

When the Europeans established colonies in the New World, they sought to convert the Indians way of civilization. Their obsession was to spread Christianity and their culture throughout all of the colonies including the Indian villages. Some Indian people accepted these traditions because they felt as if they had no where else to turn. When the settlers invaded the new land they brought with them many diseases which wiped out many Indian villages and tribes. The Indians also had a hard time excepting the invasions on new territories, which led to many wars. This resulted in a large decrease of the Indian population, so some Indians turned to Christianity and other European traditions.

Onthe other hand, many Indians insisted that European beliefs should exist only amongst themselves. They had no business trying to introduce a new religion when the Indian's traditions have been practiced for years. The Indians during this time were forced to accept the Europeans establishing new territories, even if they did not belong to them. As the Indian populations continued to decrease, some Indians intermarried with the Europeans and even the Africans to try and boost the population once again.

This of course produced mixed children who were confused and could not decide which culture they would accept. This mix of people changed the ways of living for the Native Americans as well as the Europeans throughout early America. It is obvious to me that land was the largest reason for war among the Indians and the Europeans. It was simple: the Indians did not want to give up their land that they had claimed for so many years to a bunch settlers who take what ever they want. The English felt that God had granted them the land and the Indians should be removed. However, the Native Americans also wanted something from the new colonists, trade.

The American Indians were great hunters who collected many furs that were valuable trade products. After time some Indian tribes grew in debt with the settlers and the only way they could pay their debts is by giving them land. That is where the Europeans and the Indian's attitudes differ over land. The Indians were willing to sometimes negotiate about certain territories, where most of the Europeans were going to take the land whether the Indians were going to cooperate or not.

Battles often broke out when larger Indian tribes felt they could fight for their land. Sometimes they were able to defeat the English in battles, but most of the time they were outnumbered. During this time the English were very greet y. The King was giving away land that did not even belong to him, and did not care tha the was diminishing the population of the American Indians in the process. Native American speeches, letters, and opinions have given historians avery good understanding of what life was like when the colonists we reestablishing new land.

Many of the Indian's letters were agreements to land parcels (deeds) in exchange for goods. This supports the ideas I stated earlier about the importance of trade with the Europeans. In different Indian communities trade became a necessity and their ability to fend for themselves. The Indians turned to the English for guns and ammunition to kill their deer and buffalo. Some also turned to alcohol, hoping that it would erase some of their problems. The leaders of certain tribes would place blame on the white people for making them unstable.

Through speeches, letters, and opinions historians are able to unravel the truth and determine what, when, and why the colonists did what they did to the American Indians. For United States history in general, these sources of information show us the importance of the land. To establish a successful colony, one must have water, and descent soil for farming. This is everything the English wanted and what chased the Indians off the land.

The colonists were the founders of industry and government. Written documents show how the colonists began mining, farming, and factories. They were also the first to set up an elected legislative body, a system similar to the one we still use today. Documents that were written by the Europeans about Native Americans would explain why the English did what they did. They probably wouldn " take themselves out to be as aggressive as the Indians might suggest. They would support themselves as independent settlers making their life the only way they knew how.

I'm sure some documents would state that the Indians were at fault for their own deaths. Speeches by the Indians would also probably exaggerated how evil the white men really were, and that they had no rights to any of the land they landed on. Limitations on the Indian treaties would explain that the Indians had no other alternative but to give their land to the white man in exchange for goods. Lastly records containing oral traditions of the Native Americans would imply that they were taken away and replaced with the beliefs of the Englishmen. The Native American Indians and the English settlers faced many hardships throughout this period of history. The Indians were faced with invasions of their land and the settlers were faced with.

These historical events that took place hundreds of years ago formed the United States today. These events can also make one appreciate living in this country in 1999.