James Axtell's’ thesis in Beyond 1492 seems to make the argument that Native Americans never wanted to deeply interact with the Europeans, only that they were forced to do so due to the European invasion of their land. He makes the argument Native Americans were often forced to conform or rebel against the Europeans in their own land. Natives often worked together in ways they never had to before, but Europeans still tried to diminish their power, and over time, they eventually do.
Axtell states that both groups had preconceived ideas about each other, Europeans believing that the Natives were “savages” who had to be changed to function in their society, while the Natives often viewed the Europeans as “Gods” because of what they had with them, and initially, both groups were friendly with each other. He then goes on to explain how Natives were often made out to be savages, because of the way history was written. True first encounters were often ignored, and a second encounter- generally …show more content…
Axtell also talks about how Europeans obviously varied depending on if they went to the New World for money, or for settlement. The French, who arrived to trade, were often allies of the Natives, most evident in the French and Indian war. They accepted and adapted to the Natives way of life, and occasionally, wanted to be as free as them. Meanwhile, those who wished to settle in the New World to escape religious persecution, often did exactly that to the Native ‘savages’, trying to change their way of life, their worship, and accept their God. And sometimes, the Natives did so or would even incorporate Him into their own religion, and sometimes this would be accepted and sometimes, it would only make life
Axtell states that both groups had preconceived ideas about each other, Europeans believing that the Natives were “savages” who had to be changed to function in their society, while the Natives often viewed the Europeans as “Gods” because of what they had with them, and initially, both groups were friendly with each other. He then goes on to explain how Natives were often made out to be savages, because of the way history was written. True first encounters were often ignored, and a second encounter- generally …show more content…
Axtell also talks about how Europeans obviously varied depending on if they went to the New World for money, or for settlement. The French, who arrived to trade, were often allies of the Natives, most evident in the French and Indian war. They accepted and adapted to the Natives way of life, and occasionally, wanted to be as free as them. Meanwhile, those who wished to settle in the New World to escape religious persecution, often did exactly that to the Native ‘savages’, trying to change their way of life, their worship, and accept their God. And sometimes, the Natives did so or would even incorporate Him into their own religion, and sometimes this would be accepted and sometimes, it would only make life