European colonization of North America had a devastating effect on the native population. Within a short period of time their way of life was changed forever. The changes were caused by a number of factors, including loss of land, disease, enforced laws which violated their culture and much more. When the Europeans arrived they brought with them diseases unknown to the natives. The natives, having no immunity died from diseases that the Europeans thought of as commonplace. They also brought guns, alcohol and horses. The effect of these was to change the way of life for the Native Americans. Horses and guns changed their way of hunting for food. Since the cultural groups had been based on their method of subsistence, changing this changed the groupings. Some major groups moved. Once they started to move fights over territory broke out. Groups who had had plenty of food, now didn’t have enough. Missions were introduced, and Natives were aggressively encouraged to convert to Christianity. Most of the groups had had some form of ancestral worship, and this enforced change in religion altered their culture identity. On top of all of these factors was the Europeans need for land and food. Native groups, because they were nomadic, didn’t see land as belonging to one person. The idea that someone could come in, claim a piece of land and ban them from it caused many problems. Wars broke out over the fact that they could no longer hunt or forage for food in places they had always done so.
Compared to Native Americans, the European colonies were significantly wealthier. So they brought development and wealth instead of poverty. Although wealth was never much of a concern for Native Americans anyway.
But other than that, I doubt that Native Americans, pre-contact, had enough strictly enforced laws to see crime as a problem. Of course, this would be different for the empires of the Aztecs and Incas.
We definitely brought disease, though. Scientific progress in the areas of medicine and epidemiology came much later.
However, since you’re counting from 1492, when the Spanish arrived, it is also important to note that a significant part of colonization was wealth extraction. The fact that the newcomers were politically and economically under the control of their home countries is the greatest difference between invasion and immigration.
Native Americans sometimes warred against each other, but they didn’t try to wipe each other out. That was us.
Native Americans didn’t drive the bison and the bald eagle to near extinction. That was us.
It was not Cleveland “indians” who polluted the Cuyahoga river to the point where it caught fire. That was us.
Europeans explained their religion to the Native Americans. The Native Americans replied: “That’s interesting. These are the stories WE believe are true.” They weren’t interested in converting anyone, or condemning those with different beliefs to damnation. That was us.
One thing the Europeans DIDN’T bring to the Native Americans was a confederated system of cooperative “states”; the Iroquois, at least, already had that.
I remember hearing a story about a resident of Louisiana by the name if Inglehoffer, who was complaining about all the damned immigrants. When asked how long his family had lived in the USA, he looked up at the inquirer and shook his head. “Since the beginning” he said.
Against ignorance as deep as that, the gods themselves contest in vain.
We just called the illegal immigrants “white people.” Another good one Mr Two Bulls. The Pulitzer Committee should have given the prize to all three finalists. If the Olympics could give out 2 gold medals for the same event there should be no problem with three prizes. Wypipo.
And remember, in the Declaration of Independence, our framers of that document called the Natives “merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.” Isn’t that exactly what we did to them? Who was calling the kettle black then?
sandflea almost 3 years ago
Nailed it Marty.
GiantShetlandPony almost 3 years ago
You know there is a Magat out there saying, “That’s not what I meant.”
Congratulations to the Navajo Nation for achieving 100% vaccinated.
Same2Ubuddy almost 3 years ago
Europeans brought the indians out of the stone age. That’s a good thing.
Masterskrain Premium Member almost 3 years ago
HOME RUN MARTY!!
Masterskrain Premium Member almost 3 years ago
S2UB is an idiot:
European colonization of North America had a devastating effect on the native population. Within a short period of time their way of life was changed forever. The changes were caused by a number of factors, including loss of land, disease, enforced laws which violated their culture and much more. When the Europeans arrived they brought with them diseases unknown to the natives. The natives, having no immunity died from diseases that the Europeans thought of as commonplace. They also brought guns, alcohol and horses. The effect of these was to change the way of life for the Native Americans. Horses and guns changed their way of hunting for food. Since the cultural groups had been based on their method of subsistence, changing this changed the groupings. Some major groups moved. Once they started to move fights over territory broke out. Groups who had had plenty of food, now didn’t have enough. Missions were introduced, and Natives were aggressively encouraged to convert to Christianity. Most of the groups had had some form of ancestral worship, and this enforced change in religion altered their culture identity. On top of all of these factors was the Europeans need for land and food. Native groups, because they were nomadic, didn’t see land as belonging to one person. The idea that someone could come in, claim a piece of land and ban them from it caused many problems. Wars broke out over the fact that they could no longer hunt or forage for food in places they had always done so.
VadimUzdensky1 almost 3 years ago
Compared to Native Americans, the European colonies were significantly wealthier. So they brought development and wealth instead of poverty. Although wealth was never much of a concern for Native Americans anyway.
But other than that, I doubt that Native Americans, pre-contact, had enough strictly enforced laws to see crime as a problem. Of course, this would be different for the empires of the Aztecs and Incas.
We definitely brought disease, though. Scientific progress in the areas of medicine and epidemiology came much later.
However, since you’re counting from 1492, when the Spanish arrived, it is also important to note that a significant part of colonization was wealth extraction. The fact that the newcomers were politically and economically under the control of their home countries is the greatest difference between invasion and immigration.
fritzoid Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Native Americans sometimes warred against each other, but they didn’t try to wipe each other out. That was us.
Native Americans didn’t drive the bison and the bald eagle to near extinction. That was us.
It was not Cleveland “indians” who polluted the Cuyahoga river to the point where it caught fire. That was us.
Europeans explained their religion to the Native Americans. The Native Americans replied: “That’s interesting. These are the stories WE believe are true.” They weren’t interested in converting anyone, or condemning those with different beliefs to damnation. That was us.
One thing the Europeans DIDN’T bring to the Native Americans was a confederated system of cooperative “states”; the Iroquois, at least, already had that.
casonia2 almost 3 years ago
And there went the neighborhood. Good cartoon, Mr. Two Bulls!
SammySnyder almost 3 years ago
In spite of all we know about history, no one is willing to admit the wisdom and prescient attitude of Chief Powhaten.
Concretionist almost 3 years ago
I remember hearing a story about a resident of Louisiana by the name if Inglehoffer, who was complaining about all the damned immigrants. When asked how long his family had lived in the USA, he looked up at the inquirer and shook his head. “Since the beginning” he said.
Against ignorance as deep as that, the gods themselves contest in vain.
Teto85 Premium Member almost 3 years ago
We just called the illegal immigrants “white people.” Another good one Mr Two Bulls. The Pulitzer Committee should have given the prize to all three finalists. If the Olympics could give out 2 gold medals for the same event there should be no problem with three prizes. Wypipo.
T Smith almost 3 years ago
Outstanding!(said the grandson of European immigrants)
sandflea almost 3 years ago
And remember, in the Declaration of Independence, our framers of that document called the Natives “merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.” Isn’t that exactly what we did to them? Who was calling the kettle black then?