Indigenous Perspectives

Crevecoeur

Champlain

Review

Indigenous Perspectives

While the relationships between settlers and Native Americans varied during the early periods of colonization, the relationships were (generally speaking) mutually beneficial.

Smith

Benjamin Franklin, "Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America"

p.244

As the population of colonists increased, the relationship between colonists and Native Americans deteriorated drastically

Review of European Views

But now was all our provision spent, the sturgeon gone, all helps abandoned, each hour expecting the fury of the savages, when God the patron of all good endeavors, in that desperate extremity so changed the hearts of the savages, that they brought such plenty of their fruits, and provision, as no man wanted.

Smith 60

Their names are of two sorts: First, those of the English giving: as natives, savages, Indians, wildmen (so the Dutch call them wilden), Abergeny men, pagans, barbarians, heathen.

• Scientist/diplomat

• Enlightenment

• More to come...

Williams 104

Bradford

Savages we call them, because their manners differ from ours, which we think the perfection of civility; they think the same of theirs. (244)

Education

Religion

Williamsburg College...?

The good missionary, disgusted with this idle tale said, "What I delivered to you were sacred truths; but what you tell me is mere fable, fiction, and falsehood." The Indian, offended, replied, "My brother, it seems your friends have not done you justice in your education; they have not well instructed you in the rules of common civility. You saw that we, who understand and practice those rules, believed all your stories; why do you refuse to believe ours?" (246)

Several of our young people were formerly brought up at the colleges...but when they came back to us, they were bad runners, ignorant of every means of living in the woods, unable to bear either cold or hunger, knew neither how to build a cabin, take a deer, or kill an enemy, spoke our language imperfectly, were therefore neither fit for hunters, warriors, nor counselors (245)

'No,' says he, 'I cannot give so much; I cannot give more than three shillings and sixpence.' I then spoke to several other dealers, but they all sung the same song... This made it clear to me, that my suspicion was right; and, that whatever they pretended of meeting to learn good things, the real purpose was to consult how to cheat Indians in the price of beaver. (247)

If the gentlemen of Virginia will send us a dozen of their sons, we will take great care of their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them (245)

Summary

How does Franklin's view of Native Americans differ from what we have previously seen?

From Europeans' perspective, the difference between civil and barbarous generally boiled down to religion, which was mobilized to justify Europeans' claims to the "New World" and to denigrate Native Americans

Williams

Intertextual Analysis

Logan

• Unprovoked Hostility
• Resignation?

Summary

Tecumseh, "Speech to the Osages"

Chief Logan, "Chief Logan's Speech"

p. 228

Rowlandson

Group #3

I appeal to any white man to say, if ever he entered Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him not meat; if ever he came cold and naked, and he clothed him not. (228)

Col. Cresap, the last spring, in cold blood, and unprovoked, murdered all the relations of Logan, not sparing even my women and children. There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature. (228-229)

Group #5

p.232

Tecumseh

How does Logan view the expansion of the European population and its influence in America?

The blood of many of our fathers and brothers has run like water on the ground, to satisfy the avarice of the white men. (232)

Native Americans addressed European expansion/encroachment through a wide range of responses that varied from assimilation to hostility.

• Shawnee

• Treaty of Fort Wayne

• Tenkswatawa (the Prophet)

When the white men first set foot on our grounds, they were hungry; they had no place on which to spread their blankets, or to kindle their fires. They were feeble; they could do nothing for themselves. Our fathers commiserated their distress, and shared freely with them whatever the Great Spirit had given his red children. (232)

• Iroquois

• Yellow Creek Massacre (9 killed and scalped)

This called on me for revenge. I have sought it: I have killed many: I have fully glutted my vengeance. For my country, I rejoice at the beams of peace. But do not harbor a thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan?--No one. (229)

They wish to kill our warriors; they would even kill our old men, women, and little ones (233)

How does Tecumseh view the expansion of the European population and influence in America?

Red Jacket

Summary

What response does Logan suggest?

Summary

If you do not unite with us, they will first destroy us, and then you will fall an easy prey to them. They have destroyed many nations of red men because they were not united. (233)

Who are the white people that we should fear them? Then cannot run fast, and are good marks to shoot at: they are only men; our fathers have killed many of them: we are not squaws, and we will stain the earth with their blood. (233)

Red Jacket, "Reply to the Missionary Jacob Cram"

What response does Tecumseh suggest?

Logan

p.230

Group #4

Tecumseh

• Unprovoked Hostility
• Retributive Violence

There was a time when our forefathers owned this great island...but an evil day came upon us. Your forefathers crossed the great water and landed on this island. Their numbers were small. They found friends and not enemies... at length their numbers had greatly increased. They wanted more land; they wanted our country. Our eyes were opened, and our minds became uneasy (230)

You have got our country, but are not satisfied; you want to force your religion upon us (230)

• Seneca

• Jacob Cram (Christianity only)

Red Jacket

• Essentialism (Religious)
• Tolerance (Religious)

How does Red Jacket view the expansion of the European population and its influence in America?

While Europeans' encroachment on Native land was a volatile issue, Native Americans were also aware of the (deleterious) influence of European material, educational, and religious culture

You say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? (231)

Occom

Summary

We are told that your religion was given to your forefathers, and has been handed down from father to son. We also have a religion, which was given to our forefathers, and has been handed down to us their children. We worship in that way. It teaches us to be thankful for all the favors we receive, to love each other, and to be united. We never quarrel about religion (231)

We do not wish to destroy your religion, or take it from you. We only want to enjoy our own. (231)

What response does Red Jacket suggest?

Objectives

Pontiac

• To examine what grievances Native Americans had with Europeans

Groupwork

• To analyze the range of responses Native Americans proposed to address the expansion and encroachment of Europeans

How did each author view the expansion of Europeans and their influence?

What response did each author propose in regards to their particular view?

• To understand the roles economics and Christianity played in Native-European interactions

Samson Occom, A Short Narrative of My Life

Pontiac

• Essentialism (Economic)
• Warfare

p. 225

Group #2

Some Ministers began to visit us and Preach the Word of God; and the Common People all Came frequently and exhorted us to the things of God, which it pleased the Lord, as I humbly hope, to Bless and accompany with Divine Influence to the Conviction and Saving Conversion of a Number of us. (225)

How does Occom view the expansion of the European population and its influence in America?

Occom

• Assimilation (Religious)
• Hybridity

Franklin

Religion and Education

Pequot

Converted to Christianity

Reverend (1759)

My Method in the School was, as Soon as the Children got together, and took their proper Seats, I Prayed with them, then began to hear them. I generally began (after some of them Could Spell and Read,) With those that were yet in their Alphabets...I concluded with Prayer... I Catechised 3 or 4 Times a Week according to the Assembly's Shout or Catechism, and many Times Proposed Questions of my own, and in my own Tongue. (226)

Summary

What response does Occom suggest?

Pontiac, "Speech at Detroit"

p. 223

Group #1

"I am the Maker of heaven and earth, the trees, lakes, rivers, and all things else. I am the Maker of mankind; and because I love you, you must do my will. The land on which you live I have made for you, and not for others. Why do you suffer the white men to dwell among you? My children, you have forgotten the customs and the traditions of your forefathers. Why do you not clothe yourselves in skins, as they did, and use the bows and arrows, and the stone-pointed lances, which they used? (223-224)

• Ottawa Indian

• Pontiac's War (1763-1766)

• Recounts the experience of Neolin

How does Pontiac view the expansion of the European population and its influence in America?

You have bought guns, knives, kettles, and blankets, from the white men, until you can no longer do without them...Fling all these things away; live as your wise forefathers lived before you. (224)

Summary

As for these English,--these dogs dressed in red, who have come to rob you of your hunting-grounds, and drive away the game,-- you must lift the hatchet against them. Wipe them from the face of the earth. (224)

What response does Pontiac suggest?

Questions to Ponder

Future Snapshot

Intertextual Analysis

Compare and contrast Europeans' and Native Americans' views of Christianity. How did the tension between these views contribute to the development of conflict?

Economic relationships played a pivotal role in how the relationship between Europeans and Native Americans developed. Compare and contrast Europeans' and Native Americans' views of these economic relationships. How did these groups benefit from these relationships? How were they harmed?

How did the Enlightenment alter the colonial consciousness?

Education played an important role in indigenous-settler interactions. How was education mobilized by Europeans to serve their expansionist goals.

How did the difference between social/economic classes influence the founding of the United States