Colonial Americas without the Indians - 1566 Words

One may believe that the information in one’s history textbook is accurate, but this is not always the case. The definition of history is the study of past events, â€Å"the branch of knowledge that records and analyzes past events†, according the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. One may â€Å"regard the native Americans-if we regard them at all-as exotic or pathetic footnotes to the main course of American history†, according to Axtell. (Axtell, James.981) One may believe this because of what textbooks say. When mentioning Indians, History textbooks often infer the Indians do â€Å"nothing, resist†¦ [or make] obstacles to the white settlement [and or] victims of oppression†. The truth is the Indians play a huge part in American history regardless to†¦show more content†¦Especially since the British had become more experienced as well in Scotland at the time in counterinsurgent warfare. The Indians gave the colonist an opponent to perhaps â₠¬Å"train or practice† on along with gaining knowledge. The history of the colonial American fighting tactics would be undoubtedly different without the Indians to introduce the new fighting strategy known as guerrilla warfare. It is possible this may have been helpful to the colonist when they won the revolutionary war. (Axtell.994) Furthermore the economy would have been utterly different without the Indians in place when the colonial Americans arrived. It is easy for one to see how the agriculture would have been similar but not the same without the Indians. Axtell stated that the mainstay of colonial life would have been farming either for â€Å"family subsistence or for capitalist marketing and accumulation. Because of the Indians existence before the Colonial Americas an extensive amount of land was cleared by the Indians which made the farming process somewhat easier for the Colonial Americas. The Indians were able to clear to clear the grub and make â€Å"meadows an d park- like woods by seasonal burning†. (Axtell.988) Because of the previous clearing work the Indians had done large corn fields and villages were formed. It was relatively easy for the colonist to obtain clear Indian land by â€Å"trading a few fathoms of trading cloth, someShow MoreRelatedNative Americans By James Axtell990 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Indian presence precipitated the formation of an American identity† (Axtell 992). Ostracized by numerous citizens of the United States today, this quote epitomizes Axtell’s beliefs of the Indians contributing to our society. Unfortunately, Native Americans’ roles in history are often categorized as insignificant or trivial, when in actuality the Indians contributed greatly to Colonial America, in ways the ordinary person would have never deliberated. James Axtell discusses these ways, as wellRead MoreEuropean Exploration And Conquest Of Latin America1277 Words   |  6 PagesEuropean exploration and conquest in Latin America the indigenous people lived off the land working mainly to support themselves. Despite having conflicts of their own, most Latin American tribes would coexist peacefully relative to what was to come. Some, more advanced civilizations, such as the Aztec, did have conditions somewhat similar to those that would soon spread to the rest of Latin America. When European settlers started to take over the Americas, however, conditions got markedly worse. WithRead MoreThe French and Indian Wars Impact on America Essay examples1198 Words   |  5 PagesThe French and Indian Wars Impact on America At the peak of Britains prominence, it was said that the sun never sets on the British Empire. Many were enthralled under its wing of mighty protection and dare a country stand up to Britain and face the consequences. 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But James Axtell, the author of Colonial America without the Indians: Counterfactual Reflections, would beg to differ. He says that instead, Indians pl ayed a key role in making America great. James Murray gives another term to describe America’s greatness: America’s â€Å"exceptionalism.† Throughout his article Axtell makes many points as to why Indians played a vitalRead MoreLethal Encounters Englishmen And Indians During Colonial Virginia By Alfred Cave1474 Words   |  6 PagesSpeech). Lethal Encounters Englishmen and Indians in Colonial Virginia by Alfred Cave is a book that extensively describe Britain’s and Spain’s initial colonization of America. The book mainly focuses on the facts and primary entries of Native Americans and pioneers, and their initial thoughts thoughts about each other. Albert Caves book, Lethal Encounters Englishmen and Indians in Colonial Virginia, discussed many issues between those indigenous to America and the pioneers, including; racism, imperialismRead MoreThe Crucial Role of Native Americans Essays740 Words   |  3 PagesAmerican history, the Indians have b een viewed and portrayed as dimwitted, helpless victims that aimlessly stood by while the Europeans conquered their land, but this view has recently come under fire and has been overturned, as it was determined to be misleading and inaccurate. Two historians that have questioned the legitimacy of past beliefs regarding the Indians are Charles Mann and James Axtell. 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During the colonial period sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; Potosi was one of the most important and relevant regions in Latin America. Its importance was based on the great opportunities of mining, economic grow, land and jobs, etc that Potosà ­ offered at the colonial time. Though the