In “Times are Altered with Us Indians by Colin Calloway,” Indian peoples are shown to have created thriving communities before the Europeans arrived in their lands. They had developed long histories, effective fishing, farming, and hunting techniques, political systems and social structures, hundreds of languages, had advanced culturally in the form of artwork and architecture, as well as have far reaching networks of trade and communication, way before Europeans had “discovered America.” Once Europeans had arrived however, they had caused Native Americans prosperity to falter. The most devastating cause of change for the Indians were diseases like smallpox, plague, measles, yellow fever, and influenza brought by the Europeans, and caused several tribes to be completely wiped out and some tribes to only have a few survivors. The diseases, as well as alcohol, caused the social and political structure to be affected negatively because elders, providers, family members, healers, and counselors perished so all the resources and knowledge in these people perished with them and were not able to be passed on to the survivors. Eventually, Indian life began to be taken over by European ideals as a way to survive, by converting to Christianity, trading with the Europeans, having the Europeans interfere in their politics, and having war-caused by the Europeans- ruin their remaining communities. Indians role in colonial America are different than they are portrayed in traditional
From David Jones’ point of view, it is important to note that these epidemics were just some of the causes of population decline during European contact. Poverty, environmental stress, massacres, dislocation, malnutrition, and destruction of traditional subsistence patterns also changed the composition of many Native American groups. Eventually, these changes caused substantial depopulation and cultural change. Jones agrees that disease carried a decisive role; however, he argues that it is not the key factor in their depopulation. “Many factors contributed to American Indian susceptibility to Old World diseases, including lack of childhood exposure, malnutrition, and the social chaos generated by European colonization” (Jones 34).
Native Americans, or Indians, as they were mistakenly called, have been the “pathetic footnotes to the main course of American history” (Axtell 981). But James Axtell, the author of Colonial America without the Indians: Counterfactual Reflections, would beg to differ. He says that instead, Indians played a key role in making America great. James Murray gives another term to describe America’s greatness: America’s “exceptionalism.” Throughout his article Axtell makes many points as to why Indians played a vital role in “American Exceptionalism”. He even says that America wouldn’t have been colonized nearly as soon if the Indians were gone, because Columbus would know he was not in the Indies and move on. So because they simply existed in the first place, Axtell says they were significant in the history of our country. Furthermore, he says Indians specifically played a vital role in the exceptionality of America’s early economy, culture, and historical events and places.
The colonization of the Americas began in the year of 1492, when Christopher Columbus and his band of explorers arrived off the coast of the Bahamas. This new “discovery” for Europe would have drastic effects not only on the settlers themselves, but on the natives and their environment. It is without a doubt that the appearance of these explorers placed the Indians on a dangerous trajectory. Now, it is currently understood how the colonization of the American continent brought disease, war and ultimately death for many of the natives. Early exploration, conquest and settlement brought about new economies for the Europeans, new religious freedoms, and knowledge of the world and of exploration, producing great benefits for the colonists. Although the settlers did face risks and sometimes death during their conquest, they undoubtedly benefitted from this expansion. The Indians, however, were dealt a different hand. The culture that they had developed and the immense civilizations that had evolved were ultimately destroyed as the spread of epidemics, constant war, and brutal exploitation brought these prosperous and hospitable peoples to their knees.
Culture wasn’t the only thing that the Europeans brought over to the Americas. Along with their customs and rules, came the diseases that the Native American’s have never been exposed to. The Europeans brought many communicable diseases such as small pox and measles which were transmitted to the Native Americans through trade goods or someone infected with them. This quickly annihilated most of the Native American population.
During the sixteenth century European pilgrims migrated across the Atlantic Ocean to settle in North America. North America had just been introduced to the Western Civilization. The America’s were home to the indigenous people, that were made up of several tribes that were called Indians by the early settlers. Together the Indians and settlers began to thrive. Growth and development in the new world was made possible by the abundant amount of natural resources.
European came to the new world of North America and they brought out advanced technology and culture to American continent. Over time, their lives changed as they adapted to different environments and they brought tremendous changed to American Indian tribes. New trade goods became another big change that European explorers and colonists brought to American Indians. Indians was trying to use these product that the explorers provided in their daily lives. Soon, American Indian men put away their bows and arrows for European firearms and lead shot. The desire to get European goods changed ancient trading patterns and American Indians began depended on European items for daily needs. The new goods brought from European totally changed Native American
The introduction of weapons, alcohol, and other European things and ideas also great and unpredictable effects. The Europeans encountered many sophisticated Indian cultures and some owe their survival to the Natives. The Europeans introduced the idea of “ownership of the land” to the Indians. Of course, tribes fought over territory to hunt, fish and occasionally practice agricultural on, but the idea of “ownership” of land was something they didn't comprehend. For some Indians the land was considered sacred, the idea of agriculture was thought of as insulting to the Earth, and many aspects of nature. For the Indians, things in nature like rivers, ponds, and even rocks, were like the saints in Christian cultures. Even after they had made deals with the Europeans for the purchase of land, they didn't understand what they had done and that led to further conflict. Europeans also changed their barter system. They had built complex economic relationships with other tribes and understood commerce as it existed in their barter and exchange system. Europeans had a destructive impact of this trading culture, trading different things than the Indians were used to and also through the use of currency.
Although the natives might have never made it to modern day like customs, the impact of the European exploration and colonization on the native people was through the conversion to Christianity; death/diseases; and the exchanges and teachings towards Natives. Without all the modifications the Europeans made on the Natives, and also colonizing in the Americas we wouldn’t have mixed race population or event the today’s united states. If the European explorers never came over to the US, some generations of family in today’s time probably would have never existed. The pain, sweat, blood, and tears that led into creating the nation, we have now been crucial during those times. It was unjust and unethical for the Europeans to treat the Natives as
Before the arrival of the European, Indian have already inhabited the places living by hunting animals and growing crops, having their own languages and cultures their land have been rooted there for generation after generation. But the Europeans, have taken those away from them, killing countless Indian with their diseases, and driving them out of their house, trying to convert them into Christian, viewing them as savage animal condemned them into an endless inexpressible sufferings. The North American Indians traditions and cultural been burn down in a matter of time, their traditions were obscured, and the chain of their recollections broken the moment when the European set foot on the New World. As the European tyranny increasing Indian habits started to change their becoming restless, and when they were pushes to their limited the Indian become more warlike, and more barbarous desperately fighting in order to earn some respect from the European. After American become independent the problem with Indian was still an issues, many war between Indian and the American has happen. More and more Indian having to move westward into the Louisiana territories continues losing their home and their lifestyles, they have also tried to bring this issues to court but was turn down, not only the Indian trying to adapted to the new environment, by creating their
The indigenous American colonies were heavily impacted by the Europeans colonization. They brought in weeds, vermin, and deadly microbes which devastated the Native Americans(39). However the Native Americans were introduced to guns, clothing, and a variety of goods that would make living much more easier for them. The Native Americans were better fed and clothed than ever before (49).
The ensuing internal strife from choosing separate sides, created rifts in the tribal confederations, and pitted brother against brother. The lack of Colonial Americans respect of tribal lands and diplomacy coupled with the Native American reliance on Europeans trade goods and technology put the Native peoples at a disadvantage (Calloway, 2012). With continued internal strife on how to interact and coexist with the white American government also came the added stressors’ of their reform programs meant to civilize Native communities to white American standards (Calloway, 2012). The reform programs and continued obliteration of the Native Americans and their culture would lead to an extreme loss of their history and many cultural identities. Alcohol, disease, learned individualistic traits, capitalism and forced religious reform are the reason for the downfall of America’s first
The presidency of Andrew Jackson was marked by extreme government reforms which resulted in the birth of our modern democracy, but the darkest part of Jackson’s presidency was his policy with the Native American Indians. The relationship between the United States government and the Native Americans had long been considered unstable (Marsico 6). With the arrival of European settlers at Jamestown in 1607 two radically different cultures clashed. The meeting of these two worlds was often benign but other encounters proved hostile. The enticement of the new found world and the idea of a new start were powerful incentives for European settlers to flood into America. Indians roamed the land but the European influx brought diseases to which the natives had no immunity, the native populations were severely affected. As more immigrants arrived, the land sacred to the Native Americans was being taken by white settlers, the Indians couldn’t compete with the white man’s population and technology. From 1721 to 1819, more than 90 percent of Indian land had been surrendered, including Cherokee lands (What). With the European belief of superiority the Indians seemed like a far less advanced culture and a people easily conquered. As the white man overpowered various
For more than 300 years, since the days of Christopher Columbus and the Spanish Government, an attempt of genocide of the Native American Indian has existed. From mass brutal murders and destruction by Spanish and American armies, to self-annihilation through suicide, homicide, and alcohol induced deaths brought about because of failed internal colonialism and white racial framing. Early Explores used Indigenous inhabitants upon first arriving to the America’s to survive the New World and once they adapted, internal colonialism began with attempts to convert the Indians to Christianity, repressing their values and way of life, forcing them into slavery, and nearly exterminating an entire culture from existence.
I agree with you that the Indians owned unique and rich cultures before the European conquest, although some of their behaviors were viewed as "uncivilized" by the Europeans. The Indians' normal life was completely destroyed after the Invasions of the outsiders. The locals involved in the trade with the white involuntary and their original culture faced extinction. Even worse, they were enslaved by the white and thousands of their compatriot was killed by war, epidemic and etc.
Since the Europeans set foot on North American soil in 1620,they have had a devastating effect on the native population. I will be discussing the long term effect of North American colonisation on the Native Americans, focusing on such issues as employment opportunities, the environment, culture and traditions, health, as well as social justice.