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3.8 Discussion Board 3A British North America (Graded Discussion)

Discussion Board: British Colonial America

For this discussion board I want you to review the readings, the Chapter in the text, powerpoints and videos. Specifically focus on the Barbarous Years reading and how life was in the Chesapeake Region before European contact, how European conflict affected their mentality, and the European need for land and labor and how it affected the local populations.

Remember your initial response is due by Thursday at 11:59 PM. You also need to respond to at least two other students. The two student responses are due by Sunday at 11:59 PM. Your initial response must be a minimum of 250 words. Responses to fellow students must be a minimum of 100 words.

Please select one of the following questions and respond:

1. In the text the Barbarous Years, how is Life as a Native American described in the text?
2. What was warfare between Native American tribes in the Chesapeake Region like during the time period, specifically, how did Powhatan seek to govern the region and does this contradict with what you have learned about Native American governance prior to taking this course?
3. How did the Fur Trade affect Native American society?
4. According to the Barbarous Years Reading, what type of explorers came to the America’s and what was their experience and mentality? How does the concept of “We are a product of our surroundings” play into this?

   Example 1
   Life of Native Americans was based on social structure and organized system which they used to follow. Native Americans were divided in tribes, and each tribe had its own unique rituals and social system. They used to live in small communities and the number of members often decided by the availability of resources. For food they were dependent on both agriculture and hunting. In agriculture corn was their main crop while for hunting they used to take training from childhood. It was mandatory for a man to be good hunter or otherwise he was treated in disgraceful manner in the society. Land was considered as communal resource which is owned by entire community and there was no individual ownership of land in tribes. Some tribes prefer to move from their villages for hunting, and they stay away from home for months in search of food. Reciprocity played a vital role in the social system, and many things were decided by it. They considered their relationship with other tribes, land, and with environment based on reciprocity. War and strategic alliances are also decided by reciprocity sometimes which includes exchange of humans and goods. They strongly believe in spirituality, and they consider a connection between physical world and the spiritual world. Sacrifices and gifts for spirits were common and were integral parts of their rituals. Shamans played an important role in tribes, and they were involved in performing various rituals. War and alliance between tribes were common and they were meant to show dominance of one tribe over others.

5. Example 2

   In the text the Barbarous Years, how is Life as a Native American described in the text?

Native Americans in the Barbarous Years relied on structured political systems and placed a major emphasis on spirituality. Their societies functioned through clear and defined roles such as chiefs who governed, warriors who defended or conquered, spiritual leaders that guided religion, and women who managed the agriculture and food production. Their agricultural and economic systems relied on the production of corn, beans, and squash, which were commonly referred to as the “Three Sisters.” A bountiful harvest correlated with population growth, political strength, and social stability. If a village or society was able to maintain stable and fruitful food production, that would allow for their community to support a larger population, which would lead to strengthened alliances and the ability to sustain more warriors. The text also shows that Native American societies were interconnected through trade networks and political alliances. Villages were generally not isolated, maintaining relationships with neighboring societies in order to foster trade and alliances. In areas like Chesapeake, tribes existed within larger alliances that brought big groups of societies together under shared leadership. Central leaders would collect tributes and direct military efforts while local chiefs maintained control over daily village affairs.

In Native American culture, Spiritual beliefs shaped both daily life and communal expectations. Nature was seen as powerful and required both respect and ceremonial/ritualistic interaction. Wars between tribes occurred often and often involved territory or access to resources. Seasonal change was harsh and would greatly affect crops, hunting patterns, and food availability. Overall, the text portrays life for Native American in the Barbarous Years as organized and structured, while maintaining a deep connection to nature.

Example 3

In the text the Barbarous Years, how is Life as a Native American described in the text?

Life for Native Americans were highly intelligent when they where in the barbarous years because they had to rely on sources like Farming, Hunting and seasonal movement between regions. Native Americans where well organized since they established agricultural practices. There most prominent crops they had was corn which was a huge source for them. In the Barbarous years New England colonists tried to send slaved Native Americans to Barbados, but Barbados did not want them to be imported to them because they were fearing that they would want rebellion. I wonder what life would like if that had went through. When Native Americans had conflict and warfare they would often form alliances with the Euro’s for trading or having a military advantage. Native Americans that were enslaved had died quickly from diseases but some were murdered or died from starvation. They struggled with the Impact of European diseases like smallpox and measles. Through the Barbarous ages African Slave traders had lacked firm category of race that might have led them to think that they were selling their own people because then the Native Americans did not want to be viewed as Indigenous Groups as part as the same race. Imperial official’s had tried to get rid of colonists autonomy threats from the Native Americans and New France on a continent that led many Colonists to believe Native Americans and also Catholics to abolish English America.