Cultural Clash Of Native Americans

Throughout unit one we learned about the conflicts the English settlers faced as they came and settled in the new land. The first group of settlers knew very little about their voyage or what to expect when they arrived. The settlers had to deal conflict within their selves, the natives, the land, and the other settlers. Through the European pursuit to the new land they encountered a tremendous amount of conflict that lead to the loss of many men, leaving others fearful and confused, and causing conflict between the earlier settlers. It is hard to prepare for a trip when you know little about what is about to take place, but that is exactly what the English settlers did.

I must start off by saying I found these two chapters very interesting and I feel as if I learned a lot. That being said, issues that are raised with me was that I had no idea that Europeans had such a big impact on the Native American religion. Native Americans arrived on North American continent 15,000 to 20,0000 years ago. Since that time they have lived in nearly every section of America. With the changing of the continents came the different lifestyles and drastic climate changes.

After reading Native Americans and the “Middle Ground,” I realized how narratives of historians are quick to shame and blame Native Americans in history. This article begins by revealing how European settlement presented the Indians as obstacles. Recent historians, such as Gary Nash, show the Native Americans as being conquered by the Europeans. Author of The Middle Ground, Richard White, seems to be one of the first to examine the culture of Native Americans and the relationship between colonists. White writes about the “middle ground” of the politics and trade that is eventually established.

To begin with, the 15th and 16th centuries mark the commencement of European colonization and the integration of American and European culture. Countless Europeans and American Indians were influenced by one another, throughout the Columbian Exchange. Granted, the Native Americans suffered immensely, but there are more importantly numerous significant advantages to be noticed because of European migration. The Columbian Exchange led to the introduction of various products and sources of food, the merging of different groups of people, and transformations in American government and economy. Without the combination of European and American Indian culture, life today would be incredibly less progressive and different.

Before Europeans even knew of the Americas there were Indians. The Indians had diverse cultures and conflicts with each other. There were hundreds of different groups of Indians. Most hated each other and killed each other. Some sought to get beyond murder and cannibalism.

When Dogs Could Talk In this segment, Indians were the main inhibitors of the west. It is so interesting to me how the people in the west had so many stories and legends that would could be passed down for generations. Native Americans called the west home for thousands of years, and strived living in “uncivilized” communities. There is a stereotypical belief, at least I had, that all Native American tribes wouldn’t associate with different tribes.

Native americans were not able to adapt to western customs and integrate themselves into US societies. Although it is true that American Indians had little influence on modern technology and they have their own history and beliefs, their adaptation in modern US society has not flourished as much. In some cases like shown in Source 4, an American Indian woman is seen smoking from a cigarette. This could be evidence of American Indians adapting to the western world, but it is merely a photograph taken for a photographer's album. Another rich source of misunderstanding between Native Americans and modern society’s cultural analysis is the different attitude of most Native Americans to such concepts as Nature, the environment, and social values,

Europeans that migrated to the Americas had few positive effects on native populations. The Indians' contact with settlers led to their death from diseases and warfare. These negative consequences were more effective than the Europeans' good intentions, which included wanting to Christianize and educate the Native Americans. According to http://classroom.synonym.com/did-european-migration-affect-native-populations-7034.httm, researchers estimate that the native population in America decreased by nearly 50% with disease only, beginning with the natives' first contact with European explorers in the 16th century. Most Native Americans were exposed to new diseases which their bodies and immune systems couldn’t fight.

Slavery was the most brutal institution in American history that existed from the early 17th century until now. When the Civil War ended there were more than 4 million african americans slaves in the united states. THe slaves were in harsh living conditions because they did not enjoyed any rights of freedom. Native Americans were the first enslaved people in North America. Most Indian slaves were women and children either purchased or captured as prizes in warfare.

Before European exploration and colonization, Indians attained a massive population throughout the Americas.  Living mostly in harmony with neighboring tribes, they were self-sufficient by utilizing their lands.   However, the arrival of Europeans greatly altered the lives of American Indians by lessening their population, introducing diseases, and dominating their lands. By the end of the 1400s, Europeans began to take an interest in the world outside their own boundaries.