Native American Settlers

While the colonization of what is now known as the United States was an exciting new endeavor to the European settlers, it wrecked havoc on the lives of the Native Americans. The new settlers, both knowingly and unknowingly harmed the Natives in numerous ways, which caused terrible consequences. Major problems for the Native Americans caused by the settlers were the spreading of diseases, economic ruin, and unrightful taking of land. When the European settlers arrived in North America, they brought all kinds of goods, but they also brought things they were not aware of. Having lived on an entirely separate continent, the European settlers were often subject to different diseases than the ones native to North America. These new viruses, …show more content…
The widely “available” land was deemed fit for all the settlers to live on and being the colonists they were, the Europeans believed they had a right to these lands. The Christian belief gave them the idea that whatever land not owned by other Christians was to be taken and used for their own benefits. The land, having belonged to the Natives’ and their Chief was not given up willingly, but traded, due to their weak position. The Natives’ tried to fight back against the increasingly demanding and violent settlers, who also demanded for non-material things. They demanded that the Natives’ assimilate themselves and become like the Europeans to ensure the steady eradication of Native American culture, in the hopes that along with this would die the will to rebel against the settlers. While the natives tried to maintain a sense of friendliness, the new settlers simply took over the lands they wanted. A war eventually broke out but the Native Americans, weaker in manpower and weapons, lost. The horrifying events dissuaded further attacks against the new settlers and marked the start of the decline of the Native Americans. The European settlers celebrated their success in their new land, content with their newly forming nation. The Native Americans, weakened and upset, had no choice but to watch the new settlers make their way into previously Native American lands and destroy Native cultures. The two sides went through incredibly different experiences due to the same encounter and the repercussions of the encounter damaged the Native Americans’ world