Impact of Westward Expansion on the Native Americans

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more savage lifestyle of fighting and freedom. The relationship between the English and Natives was occasionally beneficial to one another, however both expressed some level of wariness and rejection, consequently leading to a scrupulous, yet occasionally helpful system.

The Spanish colonizers arrived in the New World with a wave of ferocity and destruction. Although unintentional, their initial spread of disease throughout the Americas is representative of their relationship with the Natives. As soon as these Europeans settled, their conquest for Native’s land and converting them to Catholicism began. Events such as the Pueblo Revolt in 1680 displayed the growing tension between the two groups. In Document 4, Pedro Naranjo describes the effects of this built up animosity. The result of mistreatment from the Spaniards led to an all out revolt by the Natives. After initially defeating the colonists, they proceeded to eliminate any trace of their god, the holy Christ. The author’s point of view represents the feelings of many Natives towards the Spaniards. The Spaniards viewed them as less than human, and therefore made it their mission to vanquish the Natives. Document 6 also provides an example of exerting complete control. The painting by Juan Rodriguez Juarez depicts a high and mighty Spaniard looking down upon his Mestizo offspring. The colonist is wearing exquisite clothing, and is presented as a higher power with more authority. Juarez’s purpose was to depict the Spanish’s lust for control in a simple image. Their entire approach to the Indians was like this, as they exerted all their strength, which led to many disputes and constant antipathy.

Throughout the colonization movement in the 17th and 18th Centuries in the New World, one common theme remained prevalent: the mistreatment of the Native Americans. Whether it be due to ignorant nature of the French, calculated power moves by the English, or the outright slaughter and domination by the Spanish, the true inhabitants of the Americas suffered the short end of the stick. Firstly, the unknown factor of diseases spread by the Europeans was a large part of the Natives downfall. Additionally, the initial helpfulness and care given by the Natives was not nearly reciprocated by any of the three countries. Many were forced to culturally appropriate, converting their religion as well as conforming to the social norms set by the invading colonists. Others were stripped of their rightful land, as these European powers wrecked havoc throughout the Atlantic Coastal regions and further inland as time moved on. Even attempts to assist the Natives ultimately failed, as they wished to maintain their own way of life instead. The actions of these three colonizing nations has resulted in very detrimental effects in the present day. The culture of the Native Americans is almost nonexistent in society. Their numbers are dwindling and they lack the prosperity of the nations that were built around them. The various methods of handling the Native Americans ultimately led the French, English, and Spanish to various levels of success while the prosperity of the Indians essentially dissipated within a few generations.