Native Americans Essay Research Paper The Indians
Native Americans Essay, Research Paper
The Indians were the chief focal point of the history of New France, and
influenced the Europeans in the period before 1663. The Indians, being
legion compared with the Europeans, came into frequent contact with them.
The Indians and Europeans traded points with one another, which led to
assorted events and actions that contributed greatly to the history of New
France. The Europeans who arrived after the Indians had already settled
were exposed to the native people & # 8217 ; s manner of life, from which techniques for
endurance were acquired. Later, the Europeans depended on the Indians, some
of whom acted as jobbers and who had points which were valuable to them.
Assorted Indian personalities were besides observed and admired by Europeans
peculiarly the Jesuits.
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The Native Indians were among the first people to come in North America.
They entered America through the transition of the Bering Strait, a location
which is the center of Alaska and Siberia. As clip passed, they settled
on assorted pieces of land and hunted, fished and grew harvests. Alfred Bailey
references that, & # 8220 ; It had been suggested that Siouans, the Iroquoians and
Algonquins were among the first to come in America. & # 8221 ; 1 Before the Europeans
arrived, there were many native folks that were already settled. By the
clip Europeans arrived in North America, they found indigens busying big
sums of land.2 The Indians helped get down the history of New France.
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Since the indigens arrived early in North America, their population
started to increase rather quickly. With the combination of migration as
good as the birth rate, the Indians inflated their population to a big
size. & # 8220 ; In 1663, there were merely still 3000 Europeans populating in New France,
no more people than constituted a little Iroquoian tribe. & # 8221 ; 3 The Indians
were in the bulk before 1663.
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Surrounding the country of New France there were two chief native groups
who spoke different linguistic communications. These groups were the Algonkian and the
Iroquoian.
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The Algonquians were chiefly involved in trading and fishing. These
people remained in groups called sets, which included relations such as
parents, kids, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Algonquins
chiefly hunted, and so would develop groups to run in different countries.
They travelled about often and would take everything they needed
while on their hunting journey. In the winter, they used snowshoes ; in the
Summer, they used the canoe. The Algonquians were ever traveling from one
location to another ; because of their hunting they ne’er stayed in one
location for a long period of clip.
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The Iroquoians were chiefly occupied with agribusiness. This group
established themselves near land which could be farmed upon. They remained
in this country until the land was exhausted and nil more could be
cultivated upon it. After the land was worthless it was abandoned and
another piece of land was selected upon which to works at another location.
Their small towns were known as Longhouses. These Longhouses were rather big
and supported more than five households in them. The work forces were chiefly the
people who constructed the Longhouse. While the work forces were busy during the
summer, hunting, trading, or prosecuting in war, the adult females would care for the
harvests. The Iroquoians helped lend to agriculture by being one of the
foremost to turn harvests.
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While trading with the Europeans, the Indians were faced with many
cases that were lay waste toing and other instances which helped them net income.
Trade in New France was so outstanding that France decided to make a
monopoly to convey the trade under control. Two commissariats had to be met:
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First, the private pelt trading company had to
promote colonisation. Second, it had to direct
Roman Catholic missionaries to Christianize the
Indians.4
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On the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Tadoussac, became the main trading Centre for
the Europeans. The trade path environing Tadoussac contained connexions
from Hudson Bay to New England. Some negative facets of the pelt trade
were that:
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The Fur Trade at foremost enriched traditional
Indian life, but subsequently increasing competition
for furs generated struggles that led to the
dispersion of many Indian groups. Indian wars
grew out of long standing competitions or
developed as a consequence of Indian differences over
furs.5
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An result of trading with the Europeans that devastated the Indians,
was the epidemics which the Europeans presented. These epidemics destroyed
a big per centum of the Indian population, which they did non merit and
which were black to the population.
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Certain groups, such as the Hurons, abandoned agribusiness and focused
on trading. This reveals that trading had an tremendous impact on American indians
and their heritage. The Indians were still in control of interchanging pelts,
since Indians controlled the supply of beaver fur sought by the Dutch and
Gallic bargainers, who waited at ports on Hudson Bay or St. Lawrence River for
American indians to convey them in.6
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Some Trading relationships continued for a long clip and other
associations did non last long at all. The trading relationships which
took topographic point included:
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Gallic and Lake hurons traded boulder clay 1649, merchandising
between Dutch and Iroquois lasted boulder clay 1664,
between the Gallic and Ottawas after 1650, and
trading between the English and Iroquois after
1664.7
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This illustrates that trading dealingss affecting Lake hurons were practically
diminished shortly after the Europeans had arrived. Regardless of the
bad lucks that occurred, trading benefitted both the Indians and the
Europeans.
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During the fur trade some Indians played the function of the jobbers,
assisting out with the flow of the trade. These jobbers had located
themselves so they could cover the countries where enormous sums of the
trading done. The Hurons, who were jobbers, chiefly traded with the
Algonquins and the Gallic. The Lake hurons traded pelts and in their canoes
transported native every bit good as European goods. The jobbers had some
influence on the Europeans, for the ground that after the autumn of Huronia,
the Coureurs de Bois took over the function of the jobbers. These Coureurs de
Bois stayed and lived with the Algonquians who helped them transport out their
function efficaciously. Algonquins at some point besides played the function of
jobbers while they were interchanging goods with the Dutch. The jobbers
were helpful in commanding the trading that developed in New France, and
the Indians efficaciously carried out their functions aptly.
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During the fur trade many points were traded between the Indians and
the Europeans. The chief point of trade that the Europeans desired from the
American indians was fur. Conversely, the chief article sought by the Indians from
the Europeans were metal goods. In 1534, the fur trade industry became the
most popular and dominant industry in New France. For the Europeans, the
most popular method to roll up pelts was to merchandise with the Indians. In
return for pelts, Indians acquired European tools which made their work
easier and more productive. These tools besides lasted longer and could be
transported easy because of their light weight. The peculiar points
traded that were of usage to the Indians were as follows: Fe axes,
tomahawks, which were utile out-of-doorss and for building ; cooking pots,
steel knives, and acerate leafs helped the Indian adult females who cooked and sew.
Another point which had a big impact was the boiler: & # 8220 ; The Kettle was the
most radical article which came within the domain of the women. & # 8221 ; 8
Groceries and vesture were besides acquired from the Europeans. Among the
vesture were summer nesss which the Europeans wore, and for the winter,
covers for beds were traded for furs.9 Other articles which were traded
but did non hold a positive impact on the Indians were spiritss and baccy.
In 1640 Dutch bargainers sold guns to Mohawks, and private bargainers sold guns
to the Iroquois for furs.10 These points were peculiarly utile when in
combat against the enemy, and they were more powerful than any other
arms the Indians were accustomed to. Items that were traded, particularly
metal goods, helped the Indians with their manner of life and made their undertakings
more easy.
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Christianisation of the Indians was a arduous undertaking, but the attempt
of the Jesuits led to some successful results. Champlain had considered
that the undertaking of change overing Indians was of equal importance as assemblage
wealth in the Fur Trade or widening Gallic influence in North America.11
The first missionaries who attempted to change over the Indians were the
Recollets. They tried to do the Indians adapt to the European life styles
with great attempt, but were rather unsuccessful. A ground for their
trouble in change overing the Indians was that there was a linguistic communication barrier
which separated the two. To get the better of this barrier, the Jesuits who
followed, had to larn the native lingua. Similarities in spiritual
beliefs between both the Indians and the Jesuits were helpful in change overing
the Indian
s, since these beliefs helped the Indians relate to the
missionaries & # 8217 ; discourses, and the Indians were influenced by the talks that
they addressed. The Jesuits, while remaining with the Indians during the
procedure of transition to Christianity, were required to accommodate to the
Indians & # 8217 ; ways of life and saw many qualities of Indians, some of which the
priests admired and found virtuous. In struggle with the missionaries,
some native groups were really fearful of the Jesuits. The ground was that
people who were baptized, fell badly and shortly died. This position led them to
believe that the Jesuits were associated with all the bad lucks and evil
which they feared. The Jesuit & # 8217 ; s endless efforts to Christianize the
American indians were however a important gesture which clearly influenced
the Indians and their ways of life.
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American indians possessed qualities which were superior in assisting them
survive and that Europeans found really appealing. The Indians had good
experience in the resources available which helped in accommodating to the
state. One articulate feature was that they & # 8220 ; Highly valued
niceness and good manners in covering with one another. & # 8221 ; 12 Indians tried
non to coerce a individual into actions because & # 8220 ; It was immoral to do person
make something against his will. & # 8221 ; 13 If there was plentifulness of nutrient, sharing was
encouraged: & # 8220 ; Indians considered it incorrect to allow person hunger while others
had more than they needed. & # 8221 ; 14 Therefore the Indians maintained equality
among all persons and tried to conform with other fellow human existences.
On the subject of diseases, A.G. Bailey provinces, & # 8220 ; The early travelers found
that certain complaints which were current among Europeans at the clip were
absent from the native society. The diseases suffered by the Indians were
rather few in number. & # 8221 ; 15 This demonstrates that the Indians were healthy and
adapted good to their environment. The Indians could last the ruthless
clime environing them, and even developed snowshoes to assist them digest
the terrain when it was covered with snow. R.J. Surtees claims that, & # 8220 ; In
virtually all cases, the Indians greeted fledglings with friendly relationship,
counsel and assistance. & # 8221 ; 16 That is a good illustration of their unselfish and
tantalizingly friendly attitude to other worlds, even if they were of a
different credo. In agribusiness, & # 8220 ; These indigens, even though they seemed
so crude, had mastered agribusiness in maize, melon, squash, and beans.
They had achieved runing accomplishments with petroleum arms and appeared robust
enough. & # 8221 ; 17 Even though they did non hold really good tools, they still made
the most of whatever they had and used it to their full advantage. The
indigens possessed qualities and traits which are indispensable for endurance in
demanding conditions and for developing strong relationships.
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While trading with the Europeans, the Indians became about possessed
by the European goods they desired. & # 8220 ; With the diminution in nutrient resources in
the state, the Eastern Algonquians lost a step of autonomy and
became progressively dependent upon Europeans for their supplies. & # 8221 ; 18 Since
the Europeans had superior metal points, the craving of the Indians would
coerce them to travel to the Europeans to get them: & # 8220 ; Indians didn & # 8217 ; Ts have
Cu, Fe, hemp, wood or manufactured articles and resorted to the
Gallic for them. & # 8221 ; 19 The European goods helped the Indians out by doing
their undertakings easier to get by with so that & # 8220 ; They grew dependant on goods and
allied with Whites, who could supply for them. & # 8221 ; 20 This explains how the
American indians lost some of their heritage by trusting excessively to a great extent on the European
goods.
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The Europeans greatly depended on the Indians as the Indians
contributed to the Europeans endurance in a land which was new to them.
R.J. Surtees claims that & # 8220 ; Iroquois people likely saved Cartier & # 8217 ; s party
from complete extinction during the winter of 1535 and 1536, by learning
the Frenchmen a remedy for scurvy. & # 8221 ; 21 The Indians, being the merely other
human existences and the most welcoming in New France, were the lone 1s who
could assist the perplexed Frenchmen: & # 8220 ; Indians were the lone available
instructor who could demo the newcomer how to populate in a rough clime, to
eatage for nutrient, paddle and construct a canoe, to go on snowshoes and to
construct shelters. & # 8221 ; 22 In agribusiness, the Indians introduced Europeans to
workss such as murphies, maize, peanuts, Cucurbita pepos, Piper nigrums, tomatoes, and
beans.23 Because the Indians had pelts that the Europeans desires so
critically, & # 8220 ; Both Gallic and Dutch bargainers tried to carry on themselves in a
mode that would delight the Indians and promote the Indians to merchandise & # 8221 ; 24
This statement clearly displays that the Indians were the chief motivation for
trading, and without them there would non hold been any trade taking topographic point
at all in New France. As the Indians were superior in hunting, the Gallic
needed aid from the Indians, who did assist them. & # 8220 ; The Gallic were
dependant on native nutrient supply, particularly game, in chase of which they
were novices. & # 8221 ; 25 Harmonizing to some historiographers,
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Equally tardily as 1643, Quebec was about wholly
dependant on Indians runing for its meat
supply. Algonquians taught the Gallic how to
grow maize, beans, Cucurbita pepos, and squash. From
the Indians, they learned how to do maple
sugar and gather wild berries. Algonquins
besides trained the first Frenchmen how to
last the interior.26
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The native people were independent in agribusiness every bit good as endurance, but
still helped the confused Europeans with some of their skills. & # 8221 ; The
American indians taught Europeans how to run, travel, farm and subsist in their new
environment. & # 8221 ; 27
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Prior to 1663, the Indians clearly influenced the Europeans and the
history of New France. With pelt as their chief trading point, they obtained
European goods which they desired that helped do their mundane lives
easier. Using techniques of endurance in the out-of-doorss, they clearly set a
tendency for the Europeans to follow, so that they could shack in this
unpredictable state. The Europeans, shortly after detecting the indigens,
depended on them as their beginning of assorted techniques which were compulsory
for endurance, such as runing for nutrient. The Indians were the primary,
lending factor to the history of New France and without their
influence, Europeans could non hold progressed to where they are at this
point in Canada.
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Endnotes
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1. Alfred G. Bailey, The Conflict of European and
Eastern Algonquian Cultures ( University of Toronto Press,
1969 ) , p.2.
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2. Bruce G. Trigger. The Indians and the Heroic Age of
New France ( Canadian Historical Review-Booklet 30, 1978 ) ,
p.4.
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3. Bruce G. Trigger. Natives and Newcomers ( McGill-Queens
University Press, 1985 ) , p.17.
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4. R.D. Francis, Richard Jones, Donald B. Smith, Origins:
Canadian History To Confederation ( Holt, Rinehart and
Winston of Canada, Limited, 1988 ) , p.41.
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5. R.J. Surtees, The Original People ( Holt, Rinehart and
Winston of Canada, Limited,1971 ) , p.22.
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6. Ibid. , p.19.
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7. Ibid. , p.20.
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8. Bailey, The Conflict of European and Eastern Algonkian
Cultures, p.24.
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9. Ibid. , p.12.
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10. Gun trigger, The Indians and the Heroic Age Of New
France, p.18.
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11. Surtees, The Original People, p.34.
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12. Gun trigger, The Indians and the Heroic Age of New
France, p.6.
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13. Ibid. , p.6.
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14. Ibid. , p.6.
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15. Bailey, Conflict of European and Eastern Algonkian
Cultures, p.27.
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16. Surtees, The Original People, nine.
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17. Ibid. , p.1.
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18. Bailey, Conflict of European and Eastern Algonkian
Cultures, p.56.
19. Ibid. , p.11.
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20. Surtees, The Original People, p.21.
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21. Ibid. , nine.
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22. Ibid. , p.19.
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23. Ibid. , p.19.
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24. Gun trigger, Indians and the Heroic Age of New France,
p.22.
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25. Bailey, Conflict of Europeans and Eastern Algonkian
Cultures, p.117.
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26. Francis, Jones, Smith, Origins: Canadian History To
Alliance, p.47.
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27. Surtees, The Original People, p.ix.
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?
Bailey, A.G. The Conflict of European and Eastern
Algonquian Cultures. Toronto. 1969.
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Francis, R.D. , Jones Richard, Smith D.B. Beginnings:
Canadian History To Confederation. Toronto. 1988.
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Francis, R.D. , Jones Richard, Smith D.B. Readings In
Canadian History: Pre-Confederation. Toronto. 1990.
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Morton, D. New France and War. Toronto. 1983.
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Skeoch, E. Album of New France. Toronto. 1986.
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Surtees, R.J. The Original People. Toronto. 1971.
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Trigger, B.G. Natives and Newcomers. Montreal.1985.
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Trigger, B.G. The Indians and The Heroic Age of New
France. Ottawa. 1978.
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