THE CULTURES OF COLONIAL NORTH AMERICA

Chapter 5

Indian America

• Indian Population still the majority

• Increased activity in the fur trade

• Dependent on European Goods

• Ability to Adapt/Change as necessary– Use of firearms, metal

tools, log homes– Become a vital link in the

economy

Indian America

• Played colonial powers against each other– Catholic Iroquois:

Allegiance to French, but trade with British colonist

• Primary Concern: Population growth of British Colonies and their push westward

• Cultures in close contact – population drops over 50%

Indian America & The Horse

• Adopted from the Spanish

• They Become: – More efficient hunters– Created a more productive economy– Those using the horse would become the

dominant culture (Plains Indians)– Creates a Nomadic Culture

• Creation of the Colonial Era

Spanish Borderlands - Florida

• Mexico City – Most sophisticated City

• Indians provided a buffer zone– Constant change in the British Frontier– Few Changes in Spanish Frontier

• Florida:– Fierce fighting w/ Indians and British– Only settlements – St. Augustine, Pensacola– Forced into a cooperative alliance

Spanish Borderlands – New Mexico

• Isolated from New Spain (Mexico)

• Dominated by Pueblos and Mestizos

• Mercantilism – not in their favor

Spanish Concerns

French: expansion down the Mississippi River

• Establish presidios/Franciscan Missions

• Use Indians as Buffer

Russia: Expansion on West Coast

• Expansion in lower California and move north

• Conversion of Native population (key)– Not forced to join mission – but could not leave

– Violent means to keep them/put down uprisings

Missions – Effect on Indians

• Resistance met with violence

• Enticed to come with food, clothing, tools

• Resistance – San Diego Uprising

• Usually overworked, poor nutrition, overcrowding, disease

• High death rates, low birth rates

• California Population drops by 75%