[REVISED] Essay #1

Mistreatment of the Native Americans

Race has always been an issue in this world. Back in the 1600s, Native Americans were mistreated because of their differences. Today people are still getting mistreated because of their indifference or color. Looking at this issue it brings me great sadness for the indifference people share and then are prosecuted for. I came from a small country known as Moldova. My parents decided to move to America because of freedom rights and the diverse population. Even though I live a free life, I still get mistreated by others because I am Moldavian. Throughout high school, I have heard many rude jokes about my race. It may be funny to others, but I find it offending and hurtful. As I grow up, I realize no matter how diverse America is people still find ways to mistreat others. Englishmen came to America to establish colonies and spread their religion of Christianity. The so called “Christians” didn’t even follow what they believed in. Native Americans were mistreated by colonists because the Virginian government wanted full control over the Native American’s property and colonists wanted to ensure their safety.

The colonists were treated unfairly by the government and that caused them to mistreat Native Americans. The colonial government and surrounding Native Americans agreed to a treaty in which Native Americans gave up all claims to the land already settled by the English. In other words, Natives were not allowed onto the lands already settled by the colonists. Since the colonists continued to multiply quickly, they became land-hungry. “In their quest for land, they pushed beyond the treaty limits of English settlement and encroached steadily on Indian land.” (Roark 91) Colonists desired more land, which would provide them with opportunities to make better revenue. By focusing all their attention on the land, colonists overlooked the deeper problem of their interactions with the Natives. Since Natives were different, colonists used that for their own selfish benefit. Instead of building strong relationships with them, the colonists stole their property and destroyed their homes. I notice in my own life how people get so caught up in themselves that they don’t find the time to understand or get to know people of different race. Moreover, “Bacon accused the Berkeley government of wrong doing, including unfair taxes and not protecting the western farmers from the Indians.” (Zinn 38) Berkeley wanted peace between the Native Americans and colonists because he was getting great profit by trading with the Natives. Disallowing the colonists to take the Natives land angered Bacon and the poor colonists. This brings my attention to many immigrants from around the world. Americans take advantage of them by having the immigrants work hard, but paying them less. Colonists did not only mistreat Natives for land, but they mistreated them to keep themselves away from harm.

In order to protect themselves, colonists mistreated the Natives to ensure their safety. The English were so used to seeing their race, that when they saw the Natives, it is understandable that they would be frightened. However, this does not give colonists the right to mistreat the Native Americans for their own safety. Berkeley had refused to react to the claims that the Indians were committing murders and thefts on the frontier.” (“Bacon’s Rebellion”) Because the governor was making a good profit from trading with the Indians, he was not willing to let anyone or anything disrupt that business. Colonists saw that Berkley was not doing anything about the murders of his people, so the colonists continued to abuse Natives for their protection. However, Bacon claimed that he was, “[A] champion for those who lived on the frontier and were exposed to the threat of harm by Indians.” (“Bacons Rebellion”) Bacon makes it seem that the Natives were the only ones bringing harm. In my point of view, I noticed that it wasn’t only Native Americans threatening the colonists, but it was vice versa. Both Natives and colonists blamed each other causing war between them. Moreover, Bacon’s wife wrote to her sister stating, “The Indians killing people daily the Govern: not taking any notice of it for to hinder them, but let them daily doe all the mischief they can [.]” ("The William and Mary Quarerly") She is making it seem like Native Americans are horrible, and that they didn’t do anything bad to deserve the mischief. Mary does not realize that Bacon and the other colonists are treating the Natives the same way. The colonists saw themselves higher than the Natives, excpecting them to have respect for them.

The government wanted full control of the land and that caused the Natives to lose their freedom. “The ensuing peace treaty between the colony and the natives virtually stripped the Powhatans of their independence, their lands, and their freedom of movement.” (Puglisi 76) All the land belonged to the Native Americans and the English came and took over claiming it because they believed it rightfully belonged to them. The colonists didn't just take the Natives land, but they took many poor souls; torturing them worse than animals. This reminds me of an event that took place not too long ago in history, when white people discriminated against the black race including others as well. Black people were not allowed to get the same schooling or even walk on the same side of the road as white people. The white people wanted full control and many innocent people lost their freedom and independence because of their differences. Even though we don’t have that problem anymore, there are people who still discriminate others because of how they look. Since Native Americans were different, the government wanted control. Even though the government made it seem like they were not taking the Natives land, they really were in order to get rich off of the Native Americans.

Race has impacted many people’s lives throughout history. I am one of the living proofs of that. I dislike getting mistreated because of who I am and where I came from. A person should not be judged because of their race or place they came from. I think that a person should be judged by their personality and not their race because all humans were created different. Native Americans in the 1600s were mistreated because of their race and their great differences between the colonists. They were also stripped of their freedom and independence. Many colonists mistreated them so they can ensure their safety and took full control over them because they were not like the colonists. America has not changed much from past events, like Bacon’s Rebellion. People still to this day are mistreating others because of differences. This has been a problem for a very long time leaving many people hurt by the discourtesy of others.

Works Cited:

"Bacon's Rebellion." January 22, 2006.

http://www.virginiaplaces.org/military/bacon.html

"Bacon's Rebellion." The William and Mary Quarterly Vol. 9, No. 14. October 16, 2008 http://www.jstor.org/pss/1914836