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  • Essay / Native American relations with the English and the French

    Relations between the American Indians and the English were much more hostile than those between the American Indians and the French. First, the French treated the American Indians with respect in all respects regarding their culture. Second, the English showed no mercy or reason toward the American Indians occupying their native lands. Finally, instead of trying to take advantage of the indigenous peoples of North America, the French established trade relations. During almost the entire period of colonization, the French remained allied with the American Indians. The reason for the constant peace between the two peoples was the mutual respect shared between them. An account of this coexistence is that of Jean Nicolet recorded by Paul Radin in "Account of the first contact of the Ho¬Chunk (Winnebago)". Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay In the document, Jean talks about the various exchanges that took place between them, such as “furs for guns, knives and axes” (Nicolet1). The French always showed an excess of respect for the morals of the American Indians, which resulted in a solidly founded alliance. Not all relations between Europeans and American Indians were peaceful. In fact, relations between the English and the American Indians were mostly violent. Unlike the French, the English had little respect for the Indian way of life in North America. In most recorded cases, the English showed little or no mercy regarding the seizure of land and resources. Dr. Gabrielle Tayac explains in the document Colonial Indian-White Relations: “Native people sometimes left their villages to hunt, fish, or harvest resources. Often, they returned to their villages to discover the lands occupied by the settlers” (Tayac 1). From there, “a series of wars began in the Chesapeake Bay region and continued throughout the 17th century” (Tayac 1). Most Anglo-American relations with the Indians were violent and disrespectful. The French were able to establish trading relationships with the American Indians to get what they wanted. Unlike the English who deceived and plundered the Native Americans off their lands, the French used respectful methods of trade and negotiation to obtain land and goods. Ellen Holmes, associate professor at UNCA, describes the French-Indian relationship: “Instead of enslaving Native Americans in agricultural and mining operations, the French exploited existing intertribal alliances and rivalries to establish trade relations with the Hurons , the Montagnais and the Algonquins. the St. Lawrence River and further inland, towards the Great Lakes. » (Holmes 1). Instead of enslaving Native Americans, the French took advantage of the trade relationships they had mutually established to propel their own colonial development. Native Americans' relationships with the English and French varied greatly. The French treated the Indians with more respect, the English showed no mercy in stealing land, and the French exploited trade relationships to gain land. A counter-claim that could be made about peaceful relations between the French and the American Indians is that of the French victory at Fort William Henry in 1757. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper now from our expert writers. Nearly 1,800 Indian warriors fought alongside the.