There were numerous factors that shaped how Americans viewed the native tribes. A general suspicion and fear existed on both sides, influenced by the conflict and differences between the natives and the American settlers. There were also several different viewpoints on the native tribes that the Americans held, each either bluntly or subtly communicating superiority over the natives. The belief in inevitable white expansion also affected these viewpoints.
To begin with, one of the ways warfare affected how Americans saw the tribes was that many of them came to look upon the natives as a fearsome, hostile people group. For example, in 1622, Powhatan Indians massacred over 300 colonists in Virginia. This included women and children, and they …show more content…
First, there was the preservationist outlook. People with this view felt that the Indians should be left alone and allowed to keep the Plains. They thought the Indians to be overall good, but rather similar to children. Then the exterminationist view was that the Indians would never survive modern times, so it wasn’t a big deal if they were wiped out. Also, if they refused to go onto reservations, they should be killed. This opinion was common among those who had survived attacks by Indians, so their attitude most likely arose mostly from those experiences. Finally, the assimilationists felt it was impossible to preserve the Indian culture, as white expansion was inevitable. They didn’t believe in genocide, but believed the natives should live on reservations for their own protection and take up farming. Otherwise, the natives would not survive modern times in their opinion. If the tribes learned English, converted to Christianity, and became “civilized”, they could then become part of American society. People with this view suggest a sense of superiority, as they felt that their culture was more acceptable and the natives needed to become more like them. Manifest Destiny may have contributed to these feelings of superiority.
To conclude, the Americans had various attitudes when it came to the native tribes. Warfare throughout American history influenced the different perspectives and
To begin with, one of the ways warfare affected how Americans saw the tribes was that many of them came to look upon the natives as a fearsome, hostile people group. For example, in 1622, Powhatan Indians massacred over 300 colonists in Virginia. This included women and children, and they …show more content…
First, there was the preservationist outlook. People with this view felt that the Indians should be left alone and allowed to keep the Plains. They thought the Indians to be overall good, but rather similar to children. Then the exterminationist view was that the Indians would never survive modern times, so it wasn’t a big deal if they were wiped out. Also, if they refused to go onto reservations, they should be killed. This opinion was common among those who had survived attacks by Indians, so their attitude most likely arose mostly from those experiences. Finally, the assimilationists felt it was impossible to preserve the Indian culture, as white expansion was inevitable. They didn’t believe in genocide, but believed the natives should live on reservations for their own protection and take up farming. Otherwise, the natives would not survive modern times in their opinion. If the tribes learned English, converted to Christianity, and became “civilized”, they could then become part of American society. People with this view suggest a sense of superiority, as they felt that their culture was more acceptable and the natives needed to become more like them. Manifest Destiny may have contributed to these feelings of superiority.
To conclude, the Americans had various attitudes when it came to the native tribes. Warfare throughout American history influenced the different perspectives and