Native American Colonial Policies

The colonists’ policy toward the Native Americans had different origins and therefore different consequences. Much has been written about the encounter of these two cultures, which would sooner or later bring about a painful clash. Because of their so different cultures, only one would prevail. The colonists as a group, depending on their beliefs, had harsh policy toward Native Americans. Native Americans, on the other hand, structured their lives on beliefs, which had no common base ground with the colonists. As a clear example of this, Native Americans believed that no one owned the land, that the rich earth was abundant for all. As the colonies populated, harsher policies toward Native Americans arose, and the conflicts between the colonists
and the Native Americans isolated. Pennsylvania was the most the ideal colony. William Penn’s philosophy of pacifism made his colony a heaven of respect and tolerance for all. With the development of Pennsylvania, New England as a whole would come about. Some of William Penn’s theories may not have been carried out to a full extent, but it did set structure and social implications; this represented a harsh contrast with the policy of other colonies toward Native Americans, and an even sharper contrast of non-English settlers toward Native Americans in areas such as New France. All this would establish a part of what would be the American identity. When the English king, Charles II gave William Penn, a Quaker, a grant of land, William Penn set out to establish the colony as a heaven that embraced his religious beliefs. Quakers believed that the Holy Spirit inspired all human beings, and thus, God did not make distinctions of race, gender, ethnicity or social class. Therefore, all human beings were equal. William Penn founded Pennsylvania on a social and political system of equality. Even before arriving in Pennsylvania, Penn wrote to the Delaware chiefs, to establish peaceful relations. He recognized the Indians as the rightful owners of the land. He kept all he promised to the Native Americans, such as street control of Indian trade, to always purchase the land from the local chiefs, and upheld his philosophy of pacifism and friendly relations. New England now played a vital role with the Native Americans. New France contained approximately seven million native inhabitants in 1500, from which it decreased; due to the disease introduced by Europeans. Very few Native Americans were employed, most as slaves. They were captured by contesting tribes during battles and later sold to French colonists. New France had a weak supervision over religion, so its population had no enthusiasm over it. The Church was always sending Jesuits on missions, some of the missions were very important, in order to convert Native Americans. Trading was another way in which they adopted the religion, and it also involved learning their language. Colonists also feared the Native Americans, especially when it had to do with Native Americans’ military power. French and Native Americans relationship was calm, because they based it on dialogues and negotiations. A contrast arose when New England’s policy toward Native Americans is analyzed.
Religion was the most important factor when establishing these policies, Religions guides people in all regards, especially in how to relate with other groups. In the case of the Puritans and Pilgrims in Massachusetts and Virginia, there could be no frame left to live in equality terms with Native Americans. Contrasting sharply with Penn’s religious beliefs the Puritans believed that only a few were to be saved. Therefore, under these beliefs they established their policy toward Native Americans. In Virginia, the landowners first tried to enslave Native Americans, and have them work their fields as slaves; when they could not do this they militarized their colony, against what they assured would be potential attacks. The colonists used force to obtain land from the Native American tribes. To the Puritans, Native Americans were heathens, savages. As New Englands’policy toward Native Americans is harshly applied, a stage is set, where disagreements, violence, and even bloody vengeance will erupt. Trade is severely affected; relations between the colonists and the Native Americans shattered Native Americans on how their world was vanishing forever. This clash of cultures and defeat of the Native Americans culture would eventually lead to the domination of all Native American tribes by European
settlers. Native Americans did not have many problems with French; they knew how to deal with their problem by dialogues and negotiations. This was not the only brave solution that influenced, because of the fact that there were not many French also helped. French also had its way of putting order over Native Americans, because they expressed their power by imposing slavery over Native Americans. In New England, poor Native Americans had to deal with the same issues only that here they were treated more violent. Native Americans were seen as savages and they took advantage of them by taking their lands by force. Tired of dealing with the same issues everywhere they rebel themselves, in to which the situation turned bloody and many lost their lives. Native Americans were eventually dominated. Everywhere they lived, slavery was waiting for them; they had to deal with the same problems everywhere. In some cases they had good relations but still had their disadvantages, but in others their life was rough. European interactions with the desperate Native Americans shaped areas such as New England and New France. These early turning points in history shaped our world today.