FREE ESSAY ON ENGLISH VIEWS OF THE NATIVE AMERICANS

ENGLISH VIEWS OF THE NATIVE AMERICANS

English Views of the Native Americans
After reading chapter three of Unger's American Issues, I now have a better understanding
of how English settlers looked upon the lifestyles of the Native Americans. Four key
people that have led to this understanding are Hugh Jones, Hugh Henry Brackenridge,
William Penn, and John Heckewelder. In their essay's they give accurate accounts of how
the Native Americans lived, through their eyes. I also see how European beliefs reflected
their views and how this set the stage for conflict among these groups.
In Hugh Jones' essay titled, Characteristics of the Indians, he basically gives a factual
account of how the Indians live their daily life. Although his account is mostly factual,
his European biases do play a major role in his interpretation of Indian ways. In one
instance, in describing the Indians rejoicing and war dances, Jones says that they used,
the most antick [sic] gestures, in the most frightful dress, with a hideous noise (Unger,
p. 43). To Jones and other Englishmen their dress may seem frightful and the noise may
sound hideous, but that is his opinion. To the Indians this is normal and a way of life.
This just shows the white man's ignorance to the culture of the Native Americans. In a
second instance Jones's describes the Indians in their finest dress. He states that the
Indians believe they are looking their best when they are ridiculously dressed. Once
again he is giving his opinion of the definition of what is considered ridiculous to the
English. Jones also pokes fun at many of the traditions of the Indians, for example, the
way they wear their hair or the painting on their faces. He notes this as being comical
and also uses sarcasm in portraying these traditions. Jones' essay provides many useful
facts about the Indian way of life, but his European biases prevent him from disclosing
the actual truth.
Hugh Henry Brackenridge has a very opposing view towards the Indians. Jones never really
gives his personal opinion on whether or not he liked the Indians, but Brackenridge make
his view very clear. He makes this apparent in the title of his essay, The Indians Have
No Exclusive Claim to America. Brackenridge supports this notion with many references to
the Bible. He states that The whole of this earth was given to man, and all descendants
of Adam have a right to share it equally (Brackenridge, in Unger, p. 47). He does not
believe that the person who discovers the land has a right to all of it. He backs this
point up by using another Bible reference. He states that Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and
Japhet explored three-quarters of the world, but this does not give them a claim to the
entire world. In Breckenridge's opinion, a man should only occupy the land that he needs
to survive. This seems a contradiction to English ways. Did the British Empire not extend
its power half way around the world? Breckenridge thinks that the Indians should be
driven from the land all together. This once again contradicts the statement he makes
about all descendants of Adam having an equal right to the land. He refers to the Indians
as devils, backing this up with the pretense that they have no faith and can, in no way,
be trusted. Breckenridge is obviously a very religious man and makes it a point to use
this in his argument.
William Penn sees the Indians in a much better way than Breckenridge. He, in his own way,
respects and admires them. Along with first hand accounts of how the Indians lived their
daily lives, Penn gives a reliable account without English biases. Penn describes the
Indians in comparison to other cultures. For example, he compares their complexion to
that of the English Gypsies and Italians, their noses to those of the Romans, and their
language to Hebrew. Penn even compliments the Indians language by stating that, I know
not a Language spoken in Europe, that hath words of more sweetness or greatness, in
Accent and Emphasis, then theirs.... (Unger, p.50). He comments that the Indians only
treat their friends with respect and dignity. Penn seems to show much admiration for the
Indian lifestyle. He says that since they have not experienced English luxuries that they
our free from the greed that Englishmen possess. Another admiration that Penn has for the
Indians is how the king rules over the people. He says that although they hold much
power, they move by the Breath of their People (Penn, in Unger, p.53). Penn was the
original founder of the colony of Pennsylvania, and also a Quaker. The colony was set up
as a haven for religious freedom and welcomed all forms of people. Although the Indians
were not Christians they did believe in a god and also the concept of immortality. This
gives reason to why the Indians were treated well and respected by Pennsylvanian settlers
as well as William Penn. 
John Heckewelder provides another positive description of the Indians. He focuses on the
hospitality and kindness that the Indians portray. Heckewelder refers to the ways that
Indians address one another. They do so in a manner that is respectful to everyone. To
relatives and others that they are acquainted with, they use titles such as brother,
aunt, cousin, father, etc. For people they do not know, the word friend is commonly used.
In his account the Indians are very giving, and would rather satisfy someone else's needs
then their own. They believe that god put things on the earth for all men to share. The
Indians do not understand the need for material possessions, but still give
unconditionally. These characteristics of the Indians are very different from English
customs. The English are very greedy and most are only out for the benefit of themselves.
This easily sets the stage for conflict among the two groups (English and Indians).
Neither party really understands the ways and customs of the other.
The remaining essays in the chapter portray treaties and requests over land and
protection made to the English on behalf of the Indians. The Indians were very willing to
compromise with the English. In one instance they completely declared themselves as being
devoted to Sachem (king) Charles. Some Indians even labeled themselves as un-trustworthy,
and begged for English forgiveness. On a second occasion Indians renewed a request to
remove English settlers off of their land. They went about this in a very professional
way, bringing gifts as tokens of their sincerity. By doing these things the Indians are
unconsciously setting themselves up to be overthrown. Although these customs are normal
to the Indians, the English see it as an easy loophole for ambush. The Indians don't
understand the greedy English ways, and think that they can live in peace together.
Little do they know that their efforts are merely leading to their downfall. In an
account given by Benjamin Franklin, he describes an attack on an Indian village for no
apparent reason. This takes place on December 14th, 1763 when men went to the Conestogoe
Manor and without the least Reason or Provocation, in cool Blood, barbarously killed six
of the Indians settled there, and burnt and destroyed all their Houses and Effects (John
Penn, in Unger, p.63). This account merely sets the stage for what is to come in the
future.
Throughout these accounts I now realize how the Indians lived their day to day life and
more importantly how they interacted with the English. Through the eyes of Englishman I
see how they easily took advantage of the Indians and eventually removed them from their
land. Hugh Jones, Hugh Henry Brackenridge, William Penn, and John Heckewelder have done
an excellent job of portraying the Indians, each in their own way. Although biases
existed in some of these essays, it only leads to a better understanding of how the
English perceived Indian ways.