Work Citation

Benjamin Franklin, Indian Treaties. Archive. http://www.archive.org/stream/ indiantreatiespr00vand#page/n15/mode/2up Series of thirteen original and engaging treaties that shows Americans worked out business with the barbarians -- Native Indians -- are selected by Benjamin Franklin and David Hall. He analyzes each treaty and tells the readers accounts of what happened in each case. The indians did not always view the white settlers as perpetual enemies, but they were sometimes able to consider the colonists as partners. The accounts of treaties show policies and restrictions by the Indians, and how the colonists had to cope with them, so they could make treaties later. The white conquerors had to listen and follow the savage rituals before they were able to conquest these savages. Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson's Confidential Letter to Congress, Transcript. Nebraska Studies. http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0400/stories/0401_0100_10.html In 1803, Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter to the Congress to ask permission for further interaction with native American tribes. Franklin acknowledged the inevitability of the powerful presence of the Indians, and the need to sustain a favorable relationship with them. He considers the Indians as one country, and says that the United States must interact politically. To substantiate his claim, he said that the Indians had been residing in the North America much longer than the Americans did and has wisdom to cope with exotic dealings in the continent. The Americans must take in what they lack, and teach what the native Indians lack. The interaction will result in congregation of two systems for win-win. Charles J. Kappler, Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties. Oklahoma State. http:// digital.library.okstate.edu/kappler/vol4/html_files/v4p1065_1147img.html This source describes the treaties that American and Indians near present Oklahoma shared to set their territories and rights. It is evident that the colonists were becoming intimate with Indian officials and their political fares. Americans were giving more respect, and heeding to morality, when they needed to engage in affairs with the Indians. The treaties all state that the Indians values, liberty and lands are respected; no one can assault the natives without any just and lawful consent from the Congress. Indian governments were treated equivocally with those of the United States. American deemed the Indians as individual country, and tried to engage in politics. There is no doubt that the Americans acquired new aspects to supplement their own government from the Indians.

Daniel Paul. Native American Democracy. Daniel Paul. http://www.danielnpaul.com/ NativeAmericanDemocracy.html The Iroquois Confederation was the most sophisticated and influential government structure at the time. It ranged from Kentucky to Lake Ontario, which was the greatest political boundary of the time. The confederation resembled modern American government; it had a constitution, called the Great Law of Peace, interacted with other groups outside of their country -- diplomacy, and formed a military. Because these similarities with the United States, it is debatable that American imitated the Native Americans. Also, prestigious figures of America, for example, John Adams, admired the native Americans political structure and system. Donald A. Grinde, Jr. Perception of Americas Native Democracy. Ratical. http:// www.ratical.org/many_worlds/6Nations/EoL/chp6.html Indian nations had united, and formed a confederacy, when the Europeans started to settle in North America. These confederations were not very large, but not small. Seminoles to the Cherokees and Choctaws to the Iroquois and their allies, and the Hurons all possessed similar characteristic with democracy today. The colonists were observing these government systems, and were familiar with them for long time. Some colonists even studied the system and respected it; it is debatable that colonists may have copied the native Indians. The indigenous people also had councils, laws, and leaders. The white settlers continuously pointed out the similarity between the Indians and themselves. Eric Foner and Eric Foner. Colonial Culture. History. http://www.history.com/topics/colonialculture The New World was a melting pot, where numerous cultures, races, and ethnic groups all over the world emerged. Since they had similar purpose, it allowed them to form an unity as Americans. Diversity was their identity; individualism, democracy, and equal opportunity were valued. Due to cultural emergence, America embodied various characteristics -- including that of the native Indians. Americans resembled Indians the most because of their geographical features. Both Indians and Americans lived isolated in farm neighborhoods and villages, and lived near people who had similar backgrounds. Once two groups started to interact, it is only natural that the Americans found the native Indians political structure and life style to fit them better than any other cultures.

Jessica Diemer-Eaton, Iroquois Democracy Influences Benjamin Franklin and Other American Forefathers. Yahoo. http://voices.yahoo.com/iroquois-democracy-influencesbenjamin-franklin-and-11381764.html While Greek ideologies and Roman republics are credited for influencing the foundation of democracy, the native Americans political systems are rarely shed light on. The indians were the closest to the Americans to observe and had government systems that were most similar to democracy. Franklin respected and paid close attention to the Indians government system. He even proposed to copy the savages -Indians -- during a meeting in Albany Congress. Thomas Jefferson mentioned the natives government system a lot during his life, and Thomas Paine used their method of propaganda. There is no doubt that Indians influenced the Americans politics some way. John Romeyn Brodhead, Colonial History. Archive. http://www.archive.org/stream/ documentsrelativ01newyuoft#page/n5/mode/2up Word to word copies of actual documents in New York during the colonial times. One could easily identify the social background at the time, and what effects social status had in colonial history. There were still evident hierarchy in colonies in the 18th century. All requests are very formally written and shows numerous signs of respect for the receiver. Most documents ask for trading rights and decrease of taxes. Trade was what the colonists did the most to make their living and earn profits. Though there were land and servant issues, these issues were related to minority of the population. Most people were dedicated to trading. Mary Rowlandson. The Narrative of Captivity and the Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson. CSI. http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/lavender/rownarr.html In 1675, Indians abruptly raided the colonists settlement with the weapons that they had traded with the colonists. The colonists fall helplessly to this sudden and powerful force of the Indians. Houses were burning and colonists were captured and killed. Mary Rowlandson was one of the colonists who were captured by the Indians in the raid. They took her and other colonists to isolated wilderness where they lived. She was treated terribly; she sat on her knees for days and helplessly heard the cries of her children in the jail that the indigenous group had sat up. Even after she was freed, the painful memories of the captured are etched in every part of her body.

Princess Pale Moon. Native American Law. Indians. http://www.indians.org/articles/nativeamerican-law.html The Indians government resembles the central government of the United States today. Though the political system and laws varied by each tribe, most Indians had a form of representative democracy and tribal codes. Also, the powerful Iroquois approach to unite with other tribes, instead of conquering them, is similar to the union of the states in the United States. The states were in a confederation, just as the Iroquois were. The Iroquois unique system allowed them to become the most powerful Indian community in the North America, and the United States is the most powerful country in the whole world now. The confederation of states and the confederation of tribes are really similar. Also, the Indians negotiations and treaties of their own; the American may have started writing treaties after accounting the Indians do it first. Tom Jewett. Thomas Jefferson's Views Concerning Native Americans. Early America. http:// www.earlyamerica.com/review/2002_summer_fall/tj_views.htm Thomas Jefferson had a peculiar view on the Indians. While many other Americans called the Indians, savages, and disdained them, Thomas Jefferson admired the Indians. He took deep interest in native Americans policies, traditions, and language. As one of the fore-founding fathers of the United States, he incessantly tried to incorporate anything that could be learned from the Indians to supplement the new country. Also, as a one of the greatest scientists in the North America, he was an keen observer. He had catalogued Indian tribes and languages each by each. The Americans had to become intimate with the Indians due to these continuous efforts. Better relationship led to creation of a mixed country, which included aspects of the Indians and Europeans. The United States must have incorporated the Indians political system too. William T. Davis. Bradfords history of Plymouth plantation, 1606-1646. Archive. http:// www.archive.org/stream/cu31924028814824/cu31924028814824_djvu.txt William Bradford and his family, from Austerfield, settles in America. Though he wanted to preach the Gods words to the former inhabitants. However, the new law -non-conformists were abjured from the realm -- forced him and his family to abandon their religion. Isolated, he spent most of the time in planting and performing house work. Eventually, he interacted with the native Indians, Massasoit, as a missionary. The colonists tried to set peace treaties with the Indians; Bradford became a bridge between the indigenous group and the colonists for permanent amicable relationship. Colonists learned a lot about the lives in the New World, and Indians were dumbfounded to see the civilized works of the Europeans.

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