Early Interaction between European Powers and Native Americans and the Process of Colonization

Early Interaction between European Powers and Native Americans and the Process of Colonization

Introduction

This research paper sets to respond to two questions related to Benjamin Franklin and then describe and interpret interactions among early European powers, Native Americans, and the process of colonization, including the development of early forms of governance.

Responses to Questions Related to Benjamin Franklin

Question One

The intended audience of Benjamin Franklin’s writing was the British colonialists and the Native Americans, especially the various Indian tribes who were living along the east coast of North America. Franklin tried to use his work to enlighten them of a possibility of colonial expansion following the rapid increase in population in European nations as it was the case across the American continent. Such expansion is what had resulted in the invasion of the Europeans on the Native American Indians along the east coast, and there was the need for forming agreements that would help govern the relationship between these two groups. These agreements were in the form of what was known as the Indian Treaties, and the majority of them were authored and published by Franklin.

Question Two

Benjamin Franklin primarily intended to use his writings, which were in the form of Indian Treaties, to try and establish a common ground for both the Native American Indians and the British colonialists as well as enhance their trade relations, among other aspects of their interaction. Franklin also intended to promote useful knowledge throughout various colonies in the modern United States, where Europeans had colonized most of the Native Americans. For instance, he started the American’s first circulating library in Pennsylvania. Moreover, most of his thinking about colonial expansion was influenced by philosophers such as David Hume, who he interacted with during his travels abroad.

Analysis of Early Interactions between European Powers and Native Americans and the Process of Colonization

Each corner of the globe seemed to have its ‘renaissance’ as the modern world turned in 1600. Characterized by diverse cultures and languages, the Native American societies, especially the American Indian tribes who were living along the east coast of North America, were no different. As the British started to invade the east coast of North America, they had not imagined that they would encounter such a complex and high population in this area. There existed between 140 and 160 different American Indian tribes within none having a common language with the other, thus making it hard for them to converse with each. The presence of a high population composed of American Natives who used different languages made it significantly hard for the European powers to conquer and colonize the Native Americans.

Initially, the interaction between the Europeans and the Native Americans started as a trade relationship, whereby more than half of the American farm products today were being grown by the Native Americans, who used them for trading with the British. The role of Benjamin Franklin in supporting Indian affairs during the colonial and early federal America cannot be underestimated. Franklin was actively involved in developing the Indian Treaties, and through using his writing skills, he wrote and published most of these treaties, especially in the period between 1736 and 1762, with the first issue being in 1738, where institutions such as American Philosophical Society provided most of these copies. The majority of these treaties were aimed at deducing a strategy that would help the Native American Indians along the east coast of North American conduct trade with the Europeans among other businesses that would emerge in the course of their interaction.

Moreover, the interaction between the Europeans and the Native Americans marked the beginning of a new civilization in the Native Americans on a blend of diverse folkways. It is during this civilization process that the Europeans started to colonize and exert rule over the Native Americans. The Western countries considered the local Native Americans who they interacted with after landing on the east coast of North America as increasingly uncivilized hence the need for creating effective governance systems that would help civilize them.

A protocol of the Indian Treaties developed by Benjamin Franklin was eventually accepted by both the Native American Indians and the British. The most critical concept of this protocol was the ‘Native American Indian Nations.’ It was based on the agreement that the British colonialist would start considering the Indian tribes on the east coast of North America as being sovereign nations who would only be governed by chiefs who would form a central council. This central council of leaders was tasked with the duty of meeting the interests of both the Native American Indians and the British Colonialists.