U.S history essay question?

US History essay question?

• I'm writing an essay and the question is how did cultural trends contribute to the deterioration of the relationship between Americans and the Native Americans. If you could just give me some ideas on topics I can write about that would be greatly appreciated.

• Answer:

  My guess is they are wanting you to discuss the differences in the cultures of Native Americans and Europeans and how that effected their relationship. I would discuss beliefs in ownership of land and private property. Native Americans did not believe that it was possible to own land, they had no concept of private property, since many of them believed the land and Earth to be sacred and religious, there was no way to own it. I would also discuss differences in religion, and the pressure from whites to convert Native Americans to Christianity. Views of "traditional roles" of men and women also strained their relationship. In many native American cultures it was the job of the women to do alll the farming, while men were warriors and hunters. Much of the men's time was spent preparing and sharpening their skills for this task. Often they would play games, have wrestling matches, etc... To whites this appeared that men were lazy and let the women do all the work which is the opposite of traditional European roles where the men are the providers.