Native American Settlers

The early European explores left their homes in search of riches. They sailed the seas in search of new lands that could offer exotic goods and new trading partners. The Explorers traveled from place to place taking what they wanted and leaving a trail of disease and devastation. At this time the different countries were in constant competition, which was going to get what first. The explorers would claim places for their country even if there was already inhabitants, did not matter to them. The New World was only new to the explorers this land was already being used by the Native Americans.
At first and indirectly the European explorers wiped out a large number of Indians with their germs that caused small pox, measles, and influenza. This …show more content…
The treatment depended on the location and nation of the newcomers.
The Europeans had hard beginnings when colonizing the New World. They were met with cold winters and no food. The Indians tried to help the Europeans by bringing food and appropriate clothing for the settlers. In the beginning things were peaceful and friendly until the settlers learned what they needed to from the Indians.
The French settled in Canada. The French did not enslave the Indians; rather they used them to establish trade with other tribes. The French would trade with the Indians instead of taking from them. The French knew that their survival depended on trade with the Indians. This is why the French were able to convert a great deal of Indians to Catholic.
The Spanish settled in the southern part of the United States, Florida to California. The Spanish were the first to have contact with the Indians while searching for gold. The first encounter with the Indians was friendly; the Indians even shared food with the explorers. This partnership did not last long according to the textbook; the Spanish treated the Indians brutally. The Spanish enslaved thousands of Indians and forced them into work regiments. The Spanish used the Indians as slave to mine and to grow crops. The Spanish used the Indians to increase the Spanish wealth. The Spanish tried to convert the Indians to Christianity, but some of the Indians decided to keep their …show more content…
They all saw the Indians as less than themselves, beneath them. Sinful is the way they were described by the religious leaders and settlers alike. Not all newcomers treated the Indians with hate. “Some priests waged lifelong campaigns to reduce the exploitation of the Indians, but they only have limited power to control their colonizing compatriots.” (Nash, 33) The religious leaders tried to change the Indians beliefs and tried to lead them into a Christian life, some did follow. This is where they differed from the others were the way they interacted with the Indians. The religious leaders tried to teach them and mold the Indians into their religion image. What they failed to realize was that the Indians were already very religious and not willing to change their beliefs. The settlers thought the Indians were soulless and not to be trusted because of their religious point of

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