Causes Of The Yamasee War
Indians and Whites have always had a fragile relationship that could ignite into a war within days. One point in history where we see this take place is during the Yamasee war. The Yamasee war is a product of a broken relationship. Historians such as William Ramsey have examined the Yamasee War and hypothesized why the Indians went to war against South Carolina. Ramsey’s book, The Yamasee War, pinpoints various conflicts that may have started the war. These conflicts piled on top of each other and lead the Indians to their breaking point. The war was overall ignited by the flame of a broken relationship. Many historians have labeled the cause of the war trade. Yet, it was just one of the conflicts that added to the cause. In Ramsey’s book,
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In the colonies, the English had not only African American slaves, but also Native American slaves. Native American slaves were seen as very profitable, as Ramsey tells, “a single slave sometimes [brought in] the same price as two hundred deerskins” (Ramsey, 36). It would be beneficial for the English to get more Native American slaves rather then African American. Some of the English, such as Thomas Nairne, had other hopes for the Indian slave trade. Nairne hoped that the slave trade would “in som few years . . . reduce these barbarians to a farr less number” (Ramsey 37). This quote shows the hostility of the English towards the Indians. The English wanted to get rid of the Native Americans and have them for slavery. Therefore, slavery was growing in South Carolina and it “became a slave society before it developed a plantation regime” (Ramsey, 51). Slavery stripped the Native Americans of some of their traditions. They were often found naming their children non-Nate American names. One important thing that Ramsey takes the time to point out is that “It may indicate, for instance, that white Carolinians considered Indian identity a greater potential threat than African identity” (Ramsey, 39). Ramsey’s point proves that the English knew what they were doing. If the Indians had their identity, it made them stronger. Stripping them of their identities left them vulnerable. Overall, the Native Americans were taken advantage of and used. Slavery added to the conflicts that gave way to the Yamasee
In the colonies, the English had not only African American slaves, but also Native American slaves. Native American slaves were seen as very profitable, as Ramsey tells, “a single slave sometimes [brought in] the same price as two hundred deerskins” (Ramsey, 36). It would be beneficial for the English to get more Native American slaves rather then African American. Some of the English, such as Thomas Nairne, had other hopes for the Indian slave trade. Nairne hoped that the slave trade would “in som few years . . . reduce these barbarians to a farr less number” (Ramsey 37). This quote shows the hostility of the English towards the Indians. The English wanted to get rid of the Native Americans and have them for slavery. Therefore, slavery was growing in South Carolina and it “became a slave society before it developed a plantation regime” (Ramsey, 51). Slavery stripped the Native Americans of some of their traditions. They were often found naming their children non-Nate American names. One important thing that Ramsey takes the time to point out is that “It may indicate, for instance, that white Carolinians considered Indian identity a greater potential threat than African identity” (Ramsey, 39). Ramsey’s point proves that the English knew what they were doing. If the Indians had their identity, it made them stronger. Stripping them of their identities left them vulnerable. Overall, the Native Americans were taken advantage of and used. Slavery added to the conflicts that gave way to the Yamasee