Taylor writes in chapter 9 about the relationship between the Puritans and Indians throughout the seventeenth century. \u00a0In the beginning of this chapter Taylor explains how many of the Puritans saw the New world and its inhabitants as a horrible place whose inhabitants as wild uncivilized people. \u00a0However, Taylor reveals the Natives as simply different culturally and socially. \u00a0The Natives way of horticulture was ingenious and very practical, as well as there ways of survival. \u00a0Sadly, the Puritans immediately dismissed the natives simply because of the differences in culture and living. \u00a0Which poses the question “Why did the Puritans not acknowledge the natives’ way of life as, at least, acceptable?” \u00a0At first, the Puritans attempted to barter and share knowledge with the natives in the form of \u00a0land as well as discovered that it was most difficult to interact peacefully because of the culture barrier. \u00a0Eventually, the immobility of the colonists’ ideals eventually led to conquer, despite the Puritan’s initial goals of colonization. \u00a0Taylor states “Determined to extend their authority…the colonial leaders demanded that the resident Pequot pay heavy tribute in wampum, give up several children as hostages, and surrender suspects accused of killing a trader,” \u00a0(Taylor 194–195). \u00a0Taylor proposes in his wording that the Puritans instigated the natives only based on “authority.” \u00a0 This instigation eventually led to war. \u00a0Similar actions, Taylor implies, generally instigated by the colonists spark other conflicts throughout the seventeenth century. \u00a0On page 199 he \u00a0states “Plymouth colonists provoked the confrontation by seizing, trying and hanging three Wampanoag for murdering a praying town Indian who had served as a colonial informant.” There are several other implications in the reading that the colonists generally began most of the conflict. \u00a0Did the colonists generally begin the violence in most of these conflicts or did the Indians instigate just as the colonists did?\u00a0Taylor seems to have a slightly one sided account during this reading.<\/p>\n
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In chapter 12, Taylor focuses on the founding of the middle colonies. \u00a0I found parts of this reading interesting as at first the English had little power in the New World. However as other countries, specifically the dutch colonized and began to grow as an international superpower, the English knew they had to catch up. \u00a0Thus Taylor states on page 258 they enacted the Navigation Acts that attempted to put England back into the national trade market. \u00a0These acts seem almost like a mandate to prevent the Dutch from becoming too powerful. \u00a0And to the Dutch surprise it prevailed and eventually the English conquered New Netherlands The English, in roughly 10 years, successfully reestablished themselves as an international powerhouse and continued to reconquer much of the New World—all because of the spark of the Navigation Acts. \u00a0Although it may seem that England’s control dwindled, they still remained the main force of colonization in the 17th century.<\/p>\n
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Taylor writes in chapter 9 about the relationship between the Puritans and Indians throughout the seventeenth century. \u00a0In the beginning of this chapter Taylor explains how many of the Puritans saw the New world and its inhabitants as a horrible place whose inhabitants as wild uncivilized people. \u00a0However, Taylor reveals the Natives as simply different … <\/p>\n