10. As Mayflower shows, the American Indian tribes of New England were not a monolith, either culturally or politically. However, the English were not consistently able to think of them as separate tribes with different loyalties and desires. How did misconceptions of racial identity complicate the politics of King Philip’s War?
These misconceptions led many a Native tribe away from the Plymouth. The major mistake of grouping the Native Americans into one ethnic group provide Phillip with the necessary warriors to keep up his war even as his forces were wearing thin. These misconceptions also led to terrible atrocities being committed by both sides. The English would attack any Indian on sight, friend of foe, and enslave the others that remained helpless in other fashions. The Indians would, in response, behead, scalp, and otherwise mutilate the English, but with much more digression. Anyhow, these misconceptions complicated King Phillip's War by forcing many neutral Indians into an ever tightening vice between the murdering English and the vengeful Native Americans. Not a good situation.
No comments:
Post a Comment