Native Americans vs. European Colonists Essay - 2172 Words

The European colonists and the Native Americans of North America had very different views on nearly everything they encountered in their lives. Living in vastly different cultures lead both groups to have two extremely different outlooks on four main topics; religious beliefs, the environment, social relations, and slavery, differences which the colonists used to their advantage when conquering the peoples of the New World. The colonists, by saying that the Native Americans were primitive and savage because of their differing and seemingly illogical attitudes, were able to do things that they could never have done to people they believed to be equals. Whether this was a conscious or subconscious method on the part of the†¦show more content†¦Religion was a fervently discussed topic; people were looked down upon and often killed for the wrong religious affiliation. It makes sense that these first colonists and the many that came after would deem the Native American religions as an inferior, crude religion that was inherently â€Å"wrong† by their own religious standards. Most colonists that came in the early 1600’s were Christians, a religion that has very specific rules and rigid regulations that must be followed to be a â€Å"saved† person destined for a paradisiacal after life. Within these restrictions were the directions to â€Å"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature† (Mark 16:15). It seems clear that from the first the Christian religion was telling the colonists to â€Å"help† the natives by making them conform to the culture of the colonists and destroying their own. This was always done with a sense of Native American natural inferiority. In most cases, the Native Americans were not told the entire nature of their conversion. A Jesuit described the tactics used in converting Native Americans, â€Å"The outward splendor with which we endeavor to surround the Ceremonies of the Church†¦with a magnificence surpassing anything that the eyes of our savages have ever beheld – all these things produce an impression on their minds† (Le pays reneverse by denys delage 168). For those truly religious souls, coming to the New World meant a chance to bring salvation and Christianity to newShow MoreRelatedNative Americans And The American Indians1196 Words   |  5 PagesThe American Indians have lived in the United States since the beginning of this nation. Divided in small groups called tribes, they lived in harmony. With a great sense of spirituality, the Native Americans worshiped nature, the moon, sun, rain, earth, etc. Without exploitation, they learned how to use the natural resources to survive, having as their principal occupation hunting, fishing, and farming. 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