What does Morton admire in the lives of Native Americans, and what does he condemn? b) Why does he write that the Indians lead a "freer life than Europeans

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a) What does Morton admire in the lives of Native Americans, and what does he condemn? b) Why does he write that the Indians lead a "freer life than Europeans"?
Certainly! Here’s a transcription and an explanation of the page from the educational text:

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**Voices of Freedom**

Page 6

... their pleasure; and that their posterity was full of evil, and made God so angry that he let in the Sea upon them, and drowned the greatest part of them, that were naughty men, (the Lord destroyed so) ... The other, (which were not destroyed,) increased the world, and when they died (because they were good) went to the house of Kytan [the supreme good Spirit or God], pointing to the setting of the sun. ...

**That the Savages Live a Contented Life**

A gentleman and a traveler, that had been in the parts of New England for a time, when he returned again, in his discourse of the Country, wondered, (as he said,) that the natives of the land lived so poorly in so rich a Country, like to our Beggars in England. Surely that Gentleman had not time or leisure while he was there truly to inform himself of the state of that Country, and the happy life the Savages would lead were they once brought to Christianity.

I must confess they want the use and benefit of Navigation, (which is the very sinews of a flourishing Commonwealth,) yet are they supplied with all manner of needful things for the maintenance of life and livelihood. ... I must needs commend them in this particular, that, though they buy many commodities of our nation, yet they keep but few, and those of special use. They love not to be cumbered with many utensils, and although every proprietor knows his own, yet all things, (so long as they will last), are used in common amongst them. ... According to humane reason, guided only by the light of nature, these people lead the more happy and freer life, being void of care, which torments the minds of so many Christians: They are not delighted in baubles, but in useful things.

**Questions**

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The section discusses the perceived simplicity and contentment of the Native American way of life, as observed by a European traveler. The text reflects on the differences between European and Native lifestyles, highlighting the former's misunderstanding and the latter's happiness despite lacking material wealth in European terms.
Transcribed Image Text:Certainly! Here’s a transcription and an explanation of the page from the educational text: --- **Voices of Freedom** Page 6 ... their pleasure; and that their posterity was full of evil, and made God so angry that he let in the Sea upon them, and drowned the greatest part of them, that were naughty men, (the Lord destroyed so) ... The other, (which were not destroyed,) increased the world, and when they died (because they were good) went to the house of Kytan [the supreme good Spirit or God], pointing to the setting of the sun. ... **That the Savages Live a Contented Life** A gentleman and a traveler, that had been in the parts of New England for a time, when he returned again, in his discourse of the Country, wondered, (as he said,) that the natives of the land lived so poorly in so rich a Country, like to our Beggars in England. Surely that Gentleman had not time or leisure while he was there truly to inform himself of the state of that Country, and the happy life the Savages would lead were they once brought to Christianity. I must confess they want the use and benefit of Navigation, (which is the very sinews of a flourishing Commonwealth,) yet are they supplied with all manner of needful things for the maintenance of life and livelihood. ... I must needs commend them in this particular, that, though they buy many commodities of our nation, yet they keep but few, and those of special use. They love not to be cumbered with many utensils, and although every proprietor knows his own, yet all things, (so long as they will last), are used in common amongst them. ... According to humane reason, guided only by the light of nature, these people lead the more happy and freer life, being void of care, which torments the minds of so many Christians: They are not delighted in baubles, but in useful things. **Questions** --- The section discusses the perceived simplicity and contentment of the Native American way of life, as observed by a European traveler. The text reflects on the differences between European and Native lifestyles, highlighting the former's misunderstanding and the latter's happiness despite lacking material wealth in European terms.
**Voices of Freedom**

**2. Thomas Morton, The Native Americans of New England (1637)**

*Source: Thomas Morton, New English Canaan ... (1637), reprinted in Old South Leaflets (Boston, 1883), vol. 4.*

Among the first English settlers to write a description of the Indians of New England was Thomas Morton, an early leader of a community at Mount Wollaston (present-day Quincy), Massachusetts, founded in 1625. In *New England Canaan*, published in 1637, Morton described Indian life as well as the natural environment of the area, and offered a running commentary on nearby settler communities, many of which condemned Mount Wollaston as a place of drunkenness and debauchery. Nonetheless, Morton's account of Native Americans was widely influential. Morton presented a careful account of the Indians' homes, trade relations, society, and religion, freely offering his own judgments about them. He condemned some aspects of Indian life, claiming that their religious beliefs amounted to devil-worship, but admired their generosity and the fact that unlike Europeans they were not obsessed with acquiring "superfluous commodities."

**Of their Houses and Habitations**

The Natives of New England are accustomed to build them houses much like the wild Irish; they gather poles in the woods and put the great end of them in the ground, placing them in form of a circle or circumference, and, bending the tops of them in form of an Arch, they bind them together with the bark of Walnut trees, which is wondrous tough, so that they make the same round on the top for the smoke of their fire to ascend and pass through;... The fire is always made in the midst of the house,... yet some times they fell a tree that groweth near the house, and, by drawing in the end thereof, maintain the fire on both sides, burning the tree by degrees shorter and shorter, until it be all consumed; for it burneth night and day. Their lodging is made in three places of the house about the fire; they lie upon planks, commonly about a foot or 18 inches above the ground, raised upon rails that are borne up upon forks; they lay mats under them, and coats of deer skins, otters, beavers, racoons, and of bears' hides, all which they have dressed and converted into good leather,... and in this manner they lie as warm as they desire.... If any
Transcribed Image Text:**Voices of Freedom** **2. Thomas Morton, The Native Americans of New England (1637)** *Source: Thomas Morton, New English Canaan ... (1637), reprinted in Old South Leaflets (Boston, 1883), vol. 4.* Among the first English settlers to write a description of the Indians of New England was Thomas Morton, an early leader of a community at Mount Wollaston (present-day Quincy), Massachusetts, founded in 1625. In *New England Canaan*, published in 1637, Morton described Indian life as well as the natural environment of the area, and offered a running commentary on nearby settler communities, many of which condemned Mount Wollaston as a place of drunkenness and debauchery. Nonetheless, Morton's account of Native Americans was widely influential. Morton presented a careful account of the Indians' homes, trade relations, society, and religion, freely offering his own judgments about them. He condemned some aspects of Indian life, claiming that their religious beliefs amounted to devil-worship, but admired their generosity and the fact that unlike Europeans they were not obsessed with acquiring "superfluous commodities." **Of their Houses and Habitations** The Natives of New England are accustomed to build them houses much like the wild Irish; they gather poles in the woods and put the great end of them in the ground, placing them in form of a circle or circumference, and, bending the tops of them in form of an Arch, they bind them together with the bark of Walnut trees, which is wondrous tough, so that they make the same round on the top for the smoke of their fire to ascend and pass through;... The fire is always made in the midst of the house,... yet some times they fell a tree that groweth near the house, and, by drawing in the end thereof, maintain the fire on both sides, burning the tree by degrees shorter and shorter, until it be all consumed; for it burneth night and day. Their lodging is made in three places of the house about the fire; they lie upon planks, commonly about a foot or 18 inches above the ground, raised upon rails that are borne up upon forks; they lay mats under them, and coats of deer skins, otters, beavers, racoons, and of bears' hides, all which they have dressed and converted into good leather,... and in this manner they lie as warm as they desire.... If any
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