Bad Effects On Native Americans

Out of all the horrible things that the colonists brought to the Native Americans, alcohol and guns were two of the worst. While alcohol destroyed their livers and killed their people, guns killed their people and their culture. The World Turned Upside Down gives several accounts of the Native Americans’ lives and the destruction of them as well. I believe that guns had a bigger impact on Native Americans. Not only could they defend themselves against the colonists, but they could hunt better as well. This increased their survival greatly. Those tribes who did not receive guns fell far behind their fellow Native Americans. Cheda says, “We are poor, and not able to buy while we neglect hunting, and we cannot and carry on the War at the same Time…” (Calloway 123). The Five Nations were in the middle of war and could not protect themselves or even feed their tribe. This was devastating to those affected. The Native American reliance on guns also rendered as a detrimental problem for the tribes. Cheda quotes, “...what shall we do without Guns, shall we throw them at the Enemy? We doubt they will hurt them
so. Before this we always had guns given us” (Calloway 124). These Natives had no idea how to defend themselves without their guns. The Five Nations were helpless and knew that their neighbors were well off when it came to supplies that could hurt them. This left them feeling discouraged since this was clearly the plan of their enemy, Brother Corlear. Along with the lack of guns in wartime leaving the Natives helpless, they also had forgotten all of their customary fighting strategies.
Before guns the Native American people were crafty and could create their own weaponry. When guns were introduced to their people they had no need for spears or bows and arrows. After a while making these weapons became a thing of the past, leaving this part of their culture in the past as well. While they should have been teaching their children their arts, they turned them to guns as well. Chickasaw Headmen speaks on this topic, “... many of our young Men without Guns which renders them incapable of making ant Defence against such a powerful Enemy” (Calloway 129). Their enemies provided them with guns and could just as easily take those guns away. Without their customary homemade weaponry they were helpless without fire
power. A great man speaks on the new ways of the Native Americans and his disappointment in their new reliance on the colonists products. Pontiac, the Master of Life says, “I do not like that you drink until you lose your reason… You had no need of gun nor powder…” (Calloway 138). This leader in the Native American community wanted to return to their original customs, but it was too late.