Week 2

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Oct 30, 2023

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Uploaded by MelanieB19

Native Americans had mixed reactions to Europeans. Some tried to coexist and even traded goods, but many were skeptical because of forced religious conversions and land grabbing. Over time, some tribes felt pressured to adapt or even assimilate into European ways of life. Spain was one of the earliest and most dominating European powers to explore and colonize the Americas. Spanish conquistadors like Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro led expeditions to the New World in the early 16th century. Their main objectives were to conquer and claim territory for Spain, as well as to exploit the region's resources. So they implemented the encomienda system, which granted conquistadors control. Many Natives were deemed as slaves and were forced to work on Spanish plantations, mines, and farms, often under brutal conditions. This eventually led to significant violence as tensions rose through mistrust resulting in the "Spanish-Indian Wars” between 1519 and 1520. These wars progressed from the east down to the Southwest of the US in the New Mexico region. However, Natives were able to eventually drive out the Spaniards in 1680. During this time, Spanish missionaries like Franciscans and Jesuits, played a crucial role in converting Natives to Christianity. They built missions and schools to indoctrinate indigenous populations in Spanish Catholicism. As the Spanish exploited the region's resources, including gold, silver, and agricultural products. They didn’t mine very much, however, it was enough as they were able to keep 1/5 th of their mining wealth before sending it back to Spain. This extraction of wealth had a profound impact on the economies of Native tribes, as it disrupted traditional trade systems and led to the concentration of wealth in the hands of the Spanish crown and colonists. Unlike the Spaniards, the French had a different approach. The French became allies with the Native tribes, including the Huron, Algonquin, and Mi'kmaq, for mutual economic benefits. This enabled the dominance of the fur trade. They migrated up and down the Mississippi River. Explorers like Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain paved the way for colonization in these areas. As allies, intermarriage, and cultural exchange were prominent as the partnership was more of a cooperative nature. While the French sought to convert some Native Americans to Catholicism, their approach was generally less aggressive than that of the Spanish. French Jesuit missionaries like Jean de Brébeuf learned indigenous languages and adapted to Native cultures. The French and Native alliance had only led to a few conflicts, not with each other, but however, other European powers, primarily the British. Native American tribes gained advanced weapons through trade, particularly with the French, altering their role in conflicts. This trade then strengthened their military capabilities and tactics. English colonization of North America began in the early 17th century, marked by the establishment of colonies like Jamestown and Plymouth. English settlers, driven by the pursuit of religious freedom and economic opportunities, arrived in large numbers. However, their arrival had profound consequences for the Native American tribes in the region. One major change was land encroachment. English settlers rapidly expanded their territories, leading to the dispossession of Native lands. This had a disruptive impact on the traditional ways of life of the Native peoples, affecting their agriculture and hunting practices. Religion also played a role in the interaction between English settlers and Native tribes. Groups like the Puritans and Quakers aimed to convert Native Americans to Christianity. Some Native tribes, like the Wampanoag, initially maintained peaceful relations with the English due to religious and economic ties. Economically, English colonists mostly practiced agriculture and established trade networks. These exchanges introduced Native to European goods and agricultural techniques, ironworking skills, language, and firearms, which would later play a significant role in changing Native American cultures and warfare. Although the Natives did share knowledge of local geography, resources, and survival

techniques with the British. Unfortunately, this often resulted in the displacement of Native tribes and fierce competition for vital resources as the British acquired more and more land. As conflicts over land and resources escalated, many Native tribes, including the Powhatan Confederacy and the Pequot, engaged in wars and conflicts with English colonists. Colonists who were previously veterans of fighting in Ireland gained a reputation as Privateers, primarily against the Spaniards, in order to steer clear of political involvement since their skills were not effective in socializing with the Natives. Key player, Sir Walter Raleigh, used this strategy allowing Britain to colonize the coast and to raid foreign entities for treasure. It was a critical element in their overall strategy for privateering activities in the New World. While religious conversion efforts had not yet gained full momentum during this early period, there had been efforts about Christianity to invite the natives to learn customs and courtesies. However, it was not until the later English colonies, such as Jamestown and Plymouth, that religious conversion became a more prominent aspect of interaction. Video: We Shall Remain : "After the Mayflower." wpc.242f.edgecastcdn.net/00242F/academics/schools/arts_and_humanities/History/Amx7201d4-1.m4v The American Mosaic: The American Indian Experience - - Early Mesoamerica, Precontact-1500s (apus.edu) English Privateers (apus.edu)

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