Dead Men Tell No Tales Analysis

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In Jill Lepore’s writings “Dead Men Tell No Tales: John Sassamon and the Fatal Consequences of literacy”, She talks about how cultural conflict and the role of literacy can at times bring about conflict and or “fatal consequences”. Sassamon life was in a world where literacy was combined with the efforts to convert Native Americans to Christianity. Native sovereignty began to vanish with the arrival of European colonist, and the process was speeded up by teaching them to read and write. Sassamon was a native who looked to be very educated if not the most educated out of the natives, which could’ve lead to the hate some had for him. As a scribe, translator, and interpreter, Sassamon provided valuable services to the Native and English leaders.