Native Americans and Colonists

Native Americans

Native Americans and Colonists

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Native Americans and Colonists

Native Americans refer to the people indigenous to America before the land was founded by Columbus and colonized by European settlers. Native Americans were separated by tribes with each hunting and living on specific lands considered the territory of the particular tribe. Similar to other countries the Native American tribes would war against each other or they would come together for peace talks. What they did not expect was for thousands of white settlers to come to the country and claim the lands there people had hunted for centuries as their own. While initially colonists attempted peaceful dealings with the Native these dialing quickly escalated to violence.

Native Americans were never given a choice or asked if they were willing to give up land when the settlers arrived. Native Americans did not believe anyone could own the land but this was not the belief of the white settlers. As more and more European immigrants poured into the country the land once hunted by the Native Americas was divided up and given to colonists. While many claim America is only made up of immigrants the truth is there was an entire nation of people living in America when it was settled by the Colonists.

Native Americans were given no choice when Europeans began to settle land that did not belong to them but if that were to happen in current society the invading country would have little success. In current society America faces major challenges in preventing people from Mexico from coming into the country illegally. Even though colonists came to America without the permission of the natives and took what did not belong to them that would not be a simple feat in modern society. Naïve Americans did not have the right weapons or knowledge of war to stop the invasion and it would seem in current society despite efforts of the American government keeping Mexican out is not that easy.

Early Native Americans went to great lengths to rid their land of the invading colonists. They conducted battles and wars against the colonists and would commit savage acts to try to scare them from their homeland (William, 1993). Instead the colonists fought back to obtain these land and not to be forced to go back to their oppressive countries in Europe. Colonists went to great lengths to get to the new land to start a new life and would not allow the attacks of Native Americans stop them from settling the land. The colonists yearned to be free to practice religion or to be able to make a good life for their families. They were willing to battle the Native Americans to avoid going back to their home countries.

This is no different from the current immigration problems being faced by America. Mexican citizens are constantly making attempts to sneak into the United States in order to leave behind a country with no opportunity and a corrupt government. Mexican citizens seeking the American dream will go to any lengths to escape the brutal life they face in Mexico in favor for what they perceive as a better life. According to the Department of Homeland Security (2012) there are almost 12 million illegal immigrants in the country many of them Mexican citizens (Preston, 2013). Thousands of illegal immigrants come into the country everyday both through legal and illegal entry points.

Similar to the colonists Mexican citizens are attempting to flee an oppressive government in order to make positive changes in their lives and just like the natives Americans are fighting against this from happening. Just like the Natives current Americans do not want to give up what they consider theirs to people that did not earn it or where not born in this nation. Illegal Mexican citizens bring crime and violence similar to the colonists when they brought alcohol and disease.

References

Department of Homeland Security. (2012). Illegal Immigration Statistics. Retrieved February 19,

2014 from http://www.dhs.gov/immigration-statistics

Preston, J. (2013). Number of Illegal Immigrants in U.S. May Be on Rise Again, Estimates Say.

Retrieved February 19, 2014 from

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/24/us/immigrant-population-shows-signs-of-growth

Williams, J. (1993). Native American Clashes with European Settlers. Retrieved February 19,

2014 from http://www.wvculture.org/history/indland.html