Puritans and Quakers
In the early 17th century groups of people were escaping their countries because of religion or wars. In particular, two groups which will be addressed are known as the Puritans and the Quakers. The Puritans were a group of Christian separatists from the church of England who worked towards religious, moral, and societal reforms. The Quakers who were also separatists from the church of England, are members of a family of religious movements known as the Religious Society of Friends. Both the Puritans and the Quakers decided to settle in America to practice their fundamental forms of Christianity. Although the Puritans and the Quakers sought freedom in the Americas nevertheless, they suffered political, social, and religious persecution within their own communities. The focus here is the culture clash the Puritans and the Quakers experienced when they were introduced to Native Americans. Each group of Christians had a different relationship with the Indians.
The Puritans and the Native Americans had a culture conflict relationship because of their different religious beliefs, ethics, and world views. In the case of the Puritans and the Indians, religion played a great role. Puritans believed that there is only one God and that God had chosen a select number of people to join him in heaven. Puritans also believed that the Bible had the answers to all possible questions. On the other hand, Native Americans believed that everyone was equal, that no one was better than anybody else. Unlike the Puritans, the Indians worshipped a God, their spirits, ancestors, and all living or once living things. Also, Indians used stories they had heard instead of the Bible when it came to basic ideals or questions which was a conflict that made both groups difficult to relate to one another. Besides their religious conflicts, Puritan's and Indian's set of morals and ethic values were also a factor in which the groups differed. Puritans put their faith over anything while the Native Americans used actions like rituals and dancing. The Puritans believed in buying and selling land, but the Indians thought that selling the land people walk on was a cruel act. Lastly, Puritans and Native Americans had different perspectives about the world and people. Puritans believed to be perfect and evil, that the world is only temporary, and all that matters is that of the next world which is Heaven or Hell. On the contrary, the Indians only believed in mortal life and that they were equal halves of good and evil.
The Quakers relationship with the Native Americans was more or less better than the relationship between the Puritans and the Native Americans. At first, the Quakers participated in a cultural genocide against the Indians. The Quakers and other groups of people strived to make Indians feel that their culture was worthless. For a time, the Quakers were in charge of a couple reservations for Indian tribes and they viewed Indians as inferiors. The Quakers who worked at the reservations claimed to want to civilize the Indians, but instead some groups kidnapped Indian children and killed the men. Although the Quakers were cruel to the Indians for a period of time, they soon grew good intentions towards the Indians by defending them and teaching them Quaker ways. In the 18th century, The Quakers established the Friendly Association for Regaining and Preserving Peace with the Indians. The Quakers wanted to civilize and welfare the Indians. Since the Quakers believed in direct communication with God and spiritual equality for women, the Native Americans were more at ease in accepting the Quakers as their missionaries. The Quakers and the Native Americans had a better relationship because the Indians were able to adapt to the ways of the Quakers and because of their religious beliefs.
Work Cited
"Culture Clash: The Puritans and the Native Americans :: American America History." Culture Clash: The Puritans and the Native Americans :: American America History. http://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=23179 (accessed February 24, 2014).
"Puritans." Puritans. https://www3.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/puritans.html (accessed February 24,2014).
"Native American Netroots." Native American Netroots. http://nativeamericannetroots.net/diary/870 (accessed February 24, 2014).
"Who Are The Quakers?." Who Are The Quakers?. http://www2.gol.com/users/quakers/who_are_the_quakers.htm (accessed February 24, 2014).
In the early 17th century groups of people were escaping their countries because of religion or wars. In particular, two groups which will be addressed are known as the Puritans and the Quakers. The Puritans were a group of Christian separatists from the church of England who worked towards religious, moral, and societal reforms. The Quakers who were also separatists from the church of England, are members of a family of religious movements known as the Religious Society of Friends. Both the Puritans and the Quakers decided to settle in America to practice their fundamental forms of Christianity. Although the Puritans and the Quakers sought freedom in the Americas nevertheless, they suffered political, social, and religious persecution within their own communities. The focus here is the culture clash the Puritans and the Quakers experienced when they were introduced to Native Americans. Each group of Christians had a different relationship with the Indians.
The Puritans and the Native Americans had a culture conflict relationship because of their different religious beliefs, ethics, and world views. In the case of the Puritans and the Indians, religion played a great role. Puritans believed that there is only one God and that God had chosen a select number of people to join him in heaven. Puritans also believed that the Bible had the answers to all possible questions. On the other hand, Native Americans believed that everyone was equal, that no one was better than anybody else. Unlike the Puritans, the Indians worshipped a God, their spirits, ancestors, and all living or once living things. Also, Indians used stories they had heard instead of the Bible when it came to basic ideals or questions which was a conflict that made both groups difficult to relate to one another. Besides their religious conflicts, Puritan's and Indian's set of morals and ethic values were also a factor in which the groups differed. Puritans put their faith over anything while the Native Americans used actions like rituals and dancing. The Puritans believed in buying and selling land, but the Indians thought that selling the land people walk on was a cruel act. Lastly, Puritans and Native Americans had different perspectives about the world and people. Puritans believed to be perfect and evil, that the world is only temporary, and all that matters is that of the next world which is Heaven or Hell. On the contrary, the Indians only believed in mortal life and that they were equal halves of good and evil.
The Quakers relationship with the Native Americans was more or less better than the relationship between the Puritans and the Native Americans. At first, the Quakers participated in a cultural genocide against the Indians. The Quakers and other groups of people strived to make Indians feel that their culture was worthless. For a time, the Quakers were in charge of a couple reservations for Indian tribes and they viewed Indians as inferiors. The Quakers who worked at the reservations claimed to want to civilize the Indians, but instead some groups kidnapped Indian children and killed the men. Although the Quakers were cruel to the Indians for a period of time, they soon grew good intentions towards the Indians by defending them and teaching them Quaker ways. In the 18th century, The Quakers established the Friendly Association for Regaining and Preserving Peace with the Indians. The Quakers wanted to civilize and welfare the Indians. Since the Quakers believed in direct communication with God and spiritual equality for women, the Native Americans were more at ease in accepting the Quakers as their missionaries. The Quakers and the Native Americans had a better relationship because the Indians were able to adapt to the ways of the Quakers and because of their religious beliefs.
Work Cited
"Culture Clash: The Puritans and the Native Americans :: American America History." Culture Clash: The Puritans and the Native Americans :: American America History. http://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=23179 (accessed February 24, 2014).
"Puritans." Puritans. https://www3.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/puritans.html (accessed February 24,2014).
"Native American Netroots." Native American Netroots. http://nativeamericannetroots.net/diary/870 (accessed February 24, 2014).
"Who Are The Quakers?." Who Are The Quakers?. http://www2.gol.com/users/quakers/who_are_the_quakers.htm (accessed February 24, 2014).