Conflict and Amity of the Thesis

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The Algonquian also had harmonious relationships with the French fur trappers who came to this country and Canada to make their livings. In fact, the French bonded with the Algonquians so much that they fought with the Algonquians against their enemies, the Iroquois, during the seventeenth century. The editors of a historical Web site continue, "The Algonquian were among the first North American natives to strike alliances with the French, who adopted Algonquian means of travel and terms like 'canoe' and 'toboggan'" (Editors). This indicates the Algonquian people were eager to strike a balance with the new settlers entering the country, but they were not willing to give up their lands or way of life, something the settlers often demanded as their colonies continued to grow.

Another aspect of the relationship between the Algonquians and the settlers is the issue of disease. Many Algonquian tribes (and others) suffered huge losses due to epidemics of European diseases that they had never encountered before. For example, smallpox decimated many tribes, and other contagious diseases swept through tribes, drastically reducing their numbers. Some historians believe that settlers in many areas might have encountered more resistance from Native Americans except for their drastic reduction in numbers due to these epidemics (Bragdon 133).

Hostilities continued throughout the seventeenth century, and as settlers moved west, so did the fighting. During the French and Indian War in the 1760s, Algonquians were some of the leaders of Indian nations who fought against the British and took back British forts from Pennsylvania to Michigan and beyond. Another historian states Pontiac, an Algonquian chief, was, "the Ringleader of the Mischief' that began in May 1763 and resulted in the capture of every British post west of the Allegheny Mountains, with the exception of Forts Pitt, Detroit, and Niagara with its several outposts" (Middleton).

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When the French and Indian War ended, the Natives lost what ground they had gained, and they were reduced in numbers yet again.

Another aspect of the relationship between the Natives and the settlers was the settlers' insistence on converting the Natives to Christianity. Another author notes, "In 1643 Eliot began to learn Algonquian, and in 1650-1651 he built the first Praying Indian community at Natick, Massachusetts. By 1663 he had translated the entire English Bible into Algonquian, and by 1674 he had established fourteen Praying Indian towns" (Jalalzai). That is the only way the settlers would "tolerate" the Natives, if they became Christians, and it just another example of how they attempted to dominate the Natives throughout their history. Many Natives willingly turned to Christianity, but for many others, it was just another example of how the settlers attempted to dominate their culture, and they resisted the settlers' religion as they resisted their westward movement.

In conclusion, there was amity between the new settlers and the Algonquians at times. However, for the most part, the relationship was less than harmonious due to the continued demands of the settlers. The country and its people continued to expand, and as they grew, the settlers pushed the Native Americans further and further away from their historic tribal lands. It is not surprising there was so much discord between the Natives and the settlers; in fact, it seems surprising today that there were not more problems than there actually were between the Native Americans and the people who migrated here from Europe and beyond......

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