National Humanities Center

1
National Humanities Center Native
American-European Rivalries in North
America 1690-1763 a live, online professional
development seminar
2
Focus Questions By 1690 what factors and issues
dominated European-Native American relationships
throughout North America? How had these
relationships changed by the end of the British
imperial wars in 1763? How did these changes
influence British America on the eve of the
Revolution? How did these changes influence
Native American culture and politics?
3
Alan Taylor National Humanities Center Fellow,
1993-94 Professor of History, University of
California-Davis The Divided Ground Indians,
Settlers, and the Northern Borderland of the
American Revolution, 2006 Writing Early American
History, 2005 American Colonies, 2001 William
Cooper's Town Power and Persuasion on the
Frontier of the Early American Republic,
1995 Liberty Men and Great Proprietors the
Revolutionary Settlement on the Maine Frontier
1760-1820,1990

4
(No Transcript)
5
(No Transcript)
6

• There are great plenty of Oysters all along by
  the seaside, as far as I Rode in the Colony, and
  those very good. And they Generally lived very
  well and comfortably in their families. But too
  Indulgent (especially the farmers) to their
  slaves suffering allowing too great
  familiarity from them, permitting them to sit at
  Table and eat with them (as they say to save
  time) and into the dish goes the black hoof as
  freely as the white hand.
• Remarks on Connecticut, Sarah Kemble Knight
  (1704-05)

7
There are everywhere in the Towns as I passed a
Number of Indians, the Natives of the Country,
and are the most savage of all the savages of
that kind that I had ever Seen little or no care
taken (as I heard upon enquiry) to make them
otherwise. They have in some places Lands of
their own, and Governd by Laws of their own
making they marry many wives and at pleasure put
them away, and on the least dislike or fickle
humor, on either side, saying stand away to one
another is a sufficient Divorce. And indeed those
uncomely Stand aways are too much in Vogue among
the English in this (Indulgent Colony) as their
Records plentifully prove, and that on very
trivial matters, of which some have been told me,
but are not proper to be Related by a Female pen,
though some of that foolish sex have had too
large a share in the story. Remarks on
Connecticut, Sarah Kemble Knight (1704-05)
8
Their eternal interests are their least
concern as if salvation were not a matter of
moment when they have opportunities of serving
God they care not for making use thereof, or if
they go to church tis but too often out of
curiosity to find out faults in him that
preacheth rather than to hear their own or what
is yet worse to slight deride where they should
be Serious. New York Considered and Improved,
Rev. John Miller 1695
9

The Province of New York, being peopled by
several nations, there are manifold different
opinions of religion among them, as to which,
though there are but very few of any sect who are
either real or intelligent, yet several of the
partisans of Each sort have, every one, Such a
desire of being uppermost increasing the number
of their own party that they not only thereby
make themselves unhappy by destroying true piety
setting up instead thereof a fond heat blind
Zeal for they know not what but also
industriously obstruct the settlement of the
establishd Religion of the nation which only can
make them happy have hitherto either by their
craft cunning or their money prospered in their
designs to do thus they have but too much
pretence from the Scandalous lives of some
Ministers . . . New York Considered and
Improved, Rev. John Miller, 1695
10

Coming to speak of Pennsylvania again, that
colony possesses great liberties above all other
English colonies, inasmuch as all religious sects
are tolerated there. We find there Lutherans,
Reformed, Catholics, Quakers, Mennonists or
Anabaptists, Herrnhuters or Moravian Brethren,
Pietists, Seventh Day Baptists, Dunkers,
Presbyterians, Newborn, Freemasons, Separatists,
Freethinkers, Jews, Mohammedans, Pagans, Negroes
and Indians. The Evangelicals and Reformed,
however, are in the majority. But there are many
hundred unbaptized souls there that do not even
wish to be baptized. Many pray neither in the
morning nor in the evening, neither before nor
after meals. No devotional book, not to speak of
a Bible, will be found with such people. In one
house and one family, 4, 5, and even 6 sects, may
be found. Journey to Pennsylvania in the Year
1750 and Return to Germany in the Year 1754,
Gottlieb Mittelberger, 1756
11
The preachers throughout Pennsylvania have no
power to punish anyone, or to compel anyone to go
to church nor has anyone a right to dictate to
the other, because they are not supported by any
Consis-torio. Most preachers are hired by the
year like the cowherds in Germany and if one
does not preach to their liking, he must expect
to be served with a notice that his services will
no longer be required. It is, therefore, very
difficult to be a conscientious preacher,
especially as they have to hear and suffer much
from so many hostile and often wicked sects. The
most exemplary preachers are often reviled,
insulted and scoffed at like the Jews, by the
young and old, especially in the country. I
would, therefore, rather perform the meanest
herdsmans duties in Germany than be a preacher
in Pennsylvania. Such unheard-of rudeness and
wickedness spring from the excessive liberties of
the land, and from the blind zeal of the many
sects. To many a ones soul and body, liberty in
Pennsylvania is more hurtful than useful. There
is a saying in that country Pennsylvania is the
heaven of the farmers, the paradise of the
mechanics, and the hell of the officials and
preachers. Journey to Pennsylvania in the Year
1750 and Return to Germany in the Year 1754,
Gottlieb Mittelberger, 1756

12
When the savages come to the city of
Philadelphia and see the handsome and magnificent
buildings there, they wonder and laugh at the
Europeans for expending so much toil and cost on
houses. They say that it is quite unnecessary, as
one can live without such houses. Still more they
wonder at the garments of the Europeans and their
costly finery they will even spit out when they
see it. Journey to Pennsylvania in the Year
1750 and Return to Germany in the Year 1754,
Gottlieb Mittelberger, 1756
As many of you know,
As many of you know,
U.S. CIA / Library of Congress
U.S. CIA / Library of Congress
I left the Black Mus-
I left the Black Mus-
lim movement and
lim movement and
during the summer
during the summer
months, I spent five of
months, I spent five of
those months on the
those months on the
in the Middle East and
in the Middle East and
on the African conti-
on the African conti-
nent. During this time I
nent. During this time I
visited many countries,
visited many countries,
first of which was
first of which was
Egypt, and then Ara-
Egypt, and then Ara-
bia, then Kuwait,
bia, then Kuwait,
Lebanon, Sudan, Ken-
Lebanon, Sudan, Ken-
ya, Ethiopia, Zanzibar,
ya, Ethiopia, Zanzibar,
Tanganyika which
Tanganyika which
is now Tanzania
is now Tanzania
Nigeria, Ghana, Gui-
Nigeria, Ghana, Gui-
nea, Liberia, Algeria.
nea, Liberia, Algeria.
And then the five
And then the five
months that I was
months that I was
away I had an oppor-
away I had an oppor-
tunity to hold lengthy
tunity to hold lengthy
discussions with Presi-
discussions with Presi-
dent Nasser in Egypt,
dent Nasser in Egypt,
President Julius Nye-
President Julius Nye-
rere in Tanzania, Jomo
rere in Tanzania, Jomo
Kenyatta in Kenya,
Kenyatta in Kenya,
Milton Obote in Ugan-
Milton Obote in Ugan-
da, Azikiwe in Niger-
da, Azikiwe in Niger-
Africa, 2005 nations listed by Malcolm X in
blue see text, left. (Zanzibar,
Africa, 2005 nations listed by Malcolm X in
blue see text, left. (Zanzibar,
ia, Nkrumah in Ghana,
ia, Nkrumah in Ghana,
in the Indian Ocean, consists of two islands
controlled by Tanzania.)
in the Indian Ocean, consists of two islands
controlled by Tanzania.)
and Sékou Touré in
and Sékou Touré in
Guinea.
Guinea.
And during conversations with these men, and
other Africans on that continent, there was much
And during conversations with these men, and
other Africans on that continent, there was much
information exchanged that definitely broadened
my understanding, and I feel, broadened my scope.
For
information exchanged that definitely broadened
my understanding, and I feel, broadened my scope.
For
since coming back from over there, I have had no
desire whatsoever to get bogged down in any
picayune
since coming back from over there, I have had no
desire whatsoever to get bogged down in any
picayune
arguments with any bird-brained or small-minded
people who happen to belong to organizations,
based
arguments with any bird-brained or small-minded
people who happen to belong to organizations,
based
upon facts that are very misleading and dont get
you anywhere when you have problems as complex as

upon facts that are very misleading and dont get
you anywhere when you have problems as complex as

ours that are trying to get solved
ours that are trying to get solved
13

• The Negroes are very numerous, some Gentlemen
  having Hundreds of them of all Sorts, to whom
  they bring great Profit for the Sake of which
  they are obliged to keep them well and not
  overwork, starve, or famish them, besides other
  Inducements to favour them, which is done in a
  great Degree to such especially that are
  laborious, careful, and honest though indeed
  some Masters, careless of their own Interest or
  Reputation, are too cruel and negligent.
• Notes on the Present State of Virginia, Rev.
  Hugh Jones, 1724

14

Their Work (or Chimerical hard Slavery) is not
very laborious, their greatest Hardship
consisting in that they and their Posterity are
not at their own Liberty or Disposal, but are the
Property of their Owners and when they are free,
they know not how to provide so well for
themselves generally neither did they live so
plentifully nor (many of them) so easily in their
own Country, where they are made Slaves to one
another, or taken Captive by their Enemies.
Notes on the Present State of Virginia, Rev.
Hugh Jones, 1724
15

The common Planters, leading easy Lives, dont
much admire Labour or any manly Exercise except
Horse-Racing, nor Diversion except Cock-Fighting,
in which some greatly delight. This easy Way of
Living, and the Heat of the Summer, makes some
very lazy, who are then said to be
Climate-struck. Notes on the Present State of
Virginia, Rev. Hugh Jones, 1724
16
Focus Questions By 1690 what factors and issues
dominated European-Native American relationships
throughout North America? How had these
relationships changed by the end of the British
imperial wars in 1763? How did these changes
influence British America on the eve of the
Revolution? How did these changes influence
Native American culture and politics?
17

• Final slide.
• Thank you.