City Upon a Hill Is Term Paper

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There are many examples in the literature of the intention and purpose of the early colonists to eradicate the Indian population. The genocidal intentions against the indigenous population of America do not however begin with the English colonists, but starts with Columbus. The following quotation refers to his second voyage to the New World.

Columbus took the title "Admiral of the Ocean Sea" and proceeded to unleash a reign of terror unlike anything seen before or since. When he was finished, eight million Arawaks -- virtually the entire native population of Hispaniola -- had been exterminated by torture, murder, forced labor, starvation, disease and despair.

Genocide of the American Indian Peoples)

Historian David Stannard also states quite categorically that "the destruction of the Indians of the Americas was, far and away, the most massive act of genocide in the history of the world." (Genocide of the American Indian Peoples) The colonial imperative in fact demanded that the "Indian problem" be dealt with and be ruthlessly overcome. The rationale behind colonial genocide is described as follows.

The colonization process and nation-state building that followed demanded the eradication - through assimilation, expulsion, or extermination - of groups that did not fit into the state's authority.

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In the case of American Indians, each of these means was employed by the dominant society to solve the so-called "Indian problem."

Freedman and Freedman 11)

In conclusion, the above points and historical facts tend to paint a rather negative picture of the American Indian's encounter with the settlers. If one had to imagine an actual encounter with the white settlers, it would begin with friendly gestures and advances and this would in most cases have been met with suspicion and even outright aggression. This in turn would lead to an obvious breakdown in communication and interaction leading to distrust, prejudice and further violence. This does not mean to say that all encounters were this negative and there are of course many instances of positive encounters with white settlers. However, the general view from the historical and relevant texts tends to lean towards a bleak view of the 'clash of cultures' in early American history......

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