Native Americans In The North American Colonies

The experiences of the Native Americans and the Africans in the North American colonies during the colonial period differed greatly, but were also similar in many ways. The natives were just that, natives; they owned land that was taken from them by European settlers who came from a land faraway. The settlers came to the natives' land, and were at a disadvantage because most of their people had died from diseases or hunger whilst crossing the ocean to find a New World. The natives saw how pathetic they were and approached them in offer of trades, which would lead to good relations between the two groups (After the Mayflower). Years after the natives' initial act of kindness, the settlers became greedy demanding their land, and threatening their villages if they didn't supply them with it. Because of the threat of destruction to their villages, the natives retaliated by attacking the settlers which ultimately led to the demise of the natives. "Africans, on the other hand, were struck by the shock of the new at the moment of their enslavement, well before they stepped on board ship or set foot on American soil" (Merrell article, page 538). Africans were enslaved, and taken from their homeland, from everything they knew. They were deemed not only different, but
The younger the child, the less likely they would remember their homes , or if a black woman gave birth to a child while enslaved, the child was born into a life of slavery and it would be all they had ever known. The prospect of slavery was the expected life of Africans, and so their view of slavery was likely to be slim because they would always live in fear of slavery. If one is in is enslaved inside their mind already from fear, they will have a limited view on life and freedom