As both England and France solidified their colonial empires, contact with the natives was inevitable. However, each group treated natives differently.
Compare and contrast the native relations of each group.
The interaction of England and France with the natives in their colonial empires was very dissimilar. As England coagulated its colonial empire, the English generally mistreated the natives. Notably, they were very unreceptive to the natives. Initially, they wanted the property of the natives and used their race superiority to grab their property by force (Utter, 2001). Additionally, the English enslaved the natives and chased them out of their land. Remarkably, the English were not fair as they traded with the natives as they exploited and cheated the natives with whom they traded with (Utter, 2001). In the religious sphere, the English missionaries also appeared to use coercion in their quest to convert the natives into Christianity.
On the contrary, France treated the natives very differently. The French were relatively receptive and compassionate to the natives than the English. They reverenced their way of life and were always ready to learn from them (Utter, 2001). The French lived harmoniously with the natives and did not mistreat them. Most importantly, they did not attempt to enslave them unlike the English. Rather than feeling they are a superior race like the English, the French incorporated the natives among them. Notably, they learned the language of the natives and even intermarried with them. The religious performances of colonial France were also different from those of England. Their missionaries were more liberal to the native compared to those from England (Utter, 2001).
Which group created a strong alliance with natives and why?
Overtly, the colonial France managed to develop a stronger coalition with the natives as compared to colonial England. This is because the French were able to create economic and religious procedures that did not subject the natives to brutality. Consequently, the natives were able to solidify their relationship with the French.
References
Utter, J. (2001). American Indians: Answers to today's questions. Norman, OK: University of
Oklahoma Press.
