My understanding of freedom has changed and deepened since the first days’ classes when taking notes on my individual freedom and societal freedom. Historical changes over time and specific events and developments such as the Colonial and Native American early period have fought, articulated, and transformed the freedom many have come to take as granted. Close to the start when Christopher Columbus "discovered" America in 1776, in reality his exploration lead to the conquest and colonization to land already home to millions of people. This did however begin a pivotal moment in history that affected the Old and New World, with changes that are still current today. Along with the conquest of land the differing views of the Indians and Europeans opened different contradictory interpretations about freedom especially within religion, land use, and government.
The different perspectives on Religious Freedom from Native Americans and Europeans collided causing one to think they were superior to the other. Indians of the North America religion was based on religious ceremonies in farming and hunting, viewing nature as a world of spirits and souls. European idea of religious freedom meant leaving the life of sin to embrace the teaching s of Christ, also known as Christian Liberty. When the Europeans arrived the New World they concluded that Indians were in need of being converted to a true religion, Christianity. Many of the Indians faced persecution, as they were robbed of their religion and “decreed what forms of religious worship and belief were acceptable.” (12) Concluding that Indians lacked genuine religion, Europeans thought they were offering Indians the freedom of true religion. Yet Indian societies were not that different from Europeans believing that “a single creator stood atop the spiritual hierarchy” (9); just like priest and church leaders in position of power “in all Indian societies …shamans, medicine men, and other religious leaders—held positions of respect and authority” (pg. 9) they both held a true religion yet Indians were deprived of their Religious Freedom. Even though Indian tribes frequently warred with one another to obtain goods, seize captives, or take revenge for killings of relatives they also conducted diplomacy and peace having a sense of government. Still many Europeans viewed Indians weak in power to govern essentially “Because of the great diversity within Native American Indians did not think of themselves as a single unified people. With each group having their own political system, religious beliefs and hundreds of unintelligible languages.” (9) Along with disruptive religious controversies, freedom of Land and Property settlement became subjects of feud with the Indians and Europeans colonizers. Many Europeans took advantage of the Indians view on land as a common resource rather than an economic commodity. Generosity being one of the Indians most valued qualities, they didn’t care much for accumulation of wealth or materialistic goods rather their willingness to share goods. Indians would assign pieces of land to live to specific families and offer tribes land for hunting, leaving leftover land free for all. Unlike Indians, Europeans believed land was the basis of liberty. North American Indians lacked the techniques Europeans had mastered such as metal tools, machines, gunpowder, and scientific knowledge and because of this Europeans found this as their justification for conquest. Besides the fact that Indians had no real claim to the land they didn’t cultivate or hunt in, many Colonial authorities forced Indians to sell their land in North America through treaties right after they suffered a military defeat. The New World became a site of unfree labor such as indentured servitude, forced labor, …show more content…
The Reconstruction Period brought about a change to the view on freedom to everyone, but seemed to be valued and had a greater deal to slaves. Slaves didn't come out ignorant of freedom or without any ideas about freedom. Just like people who don't have something or little of it, value it the most. To African Americans, freedom was more than simply escaping the punishments and injustices from slavery such as separation from family, denial of access to education, and the sexual exploitation of black women. Indian tribes frequently warred with one another to obtain goods, seize captives, or take revenge for killings of relatives, yet conducted diplomacy and
The different perspectives on Religious Freedom from Native Americans and Europeans collided causing one to think they were superior to the other. Indians of the North America religion was based on religious ceremonies in farming and hunting, viewing nature as a world of spirits and souls. European idea of religious freedom meant leaving the life of sin to embrace the teaching s of Christ, also known as Christian Liberty. When the Europeans arrived the New World they concluded that Indians were in need of being converted to a true religion, Christianity. Many of the Indians faced persecution, as they were robbed of their religion and “decreed what forms of religious worship and belief were acceptable.” (12) Concluding that Indians lacked genuine religion, Europeans thought they were offering Indians the freedom of true religion. Yet Indian societies were not that different from Europeans believing that “a single creator stood atop the spiritual hierarchy” (9); just like priest and church leaders in position of power “in all Indian societies …shamans, medicine men, and other religious leaders—held positions of respect and authority” (pg. 9) they both held a true religion yet Indians were deprived of their Religious Freedom. Even though Indian tribes frequently warred with one another to obtain goods, seize captives, or take revenge for killings of relatives they also conducted diplomacy and peace having a sense of government. Still many Europeans viewed Indians weak in power to govern essentially “Because of the great diversity within Native American Indians did not think of themselves as a single unified people. With each group having their own political system, religious beliefs and hundreds of unintelligible languages.” (9) Along with disruptive religious controversies, freedom of Land and Property settlement became subjects of feud with the Indians and Europeans colonizers. Many Europeans took advantage of the Indians view on land as a common resource rather than an economic commodity. Generosity being one of the Indians most valued qualities, they didn’t care much for accumulation of wealth or materialistic goods rather their willingness to share goods. Indians would assign pieces of land to live to specific families and offer tribes land for hunting, leaving leftover land free for all. Unlike Indians, Europeans believed land was the basis of liberty. North American Indians lacked the techniques Europeans had mastered such as metal tools, machines, gunpowder, and scientific knowledge and because of this Europeans found this as their justification for conquest. Besides the fact that Indians had no real claim to the land they didn’t cultivate or hunt in, many Colonial authorities forced Indians to sell their land in North America through treaties right after they suffered a military defeat. The New World became a site of unfree labor such as indentured servitude, forced labor, …show more content…
The Reconstruction Period brought about a change to the view on freedom to everyone, but seemed to be valued and had a greater deal to slaves. Slaves didn't come out ignorant of freedom or without any ideas about freedom. Just like people who don't have something or little of it, value it the most. To African Americans, freedom was more than simply escaping the punishments and injustices from slavery such as separation from family, denial of access to education, and the sexual exploitation of black women. Indian tribes frequently warred with one another to obtain goods, seize captives, or take revenge for killings of relatives, yet conducted diplomacy and