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Difficulty: MediumEuropean and American Indian Relations

“The Indians are very desirous of trade with us, bringing great quantities of beaver and otter skins, which they exchange for our duffels, kettles, and knives. We do not seek to drive them from their lands or force our laws upon them, so long as the trade flows peacefully and they do not molest our isolated boweries [farms]. Yet, unlike the English who build crowded towns and clear the forests for their large families, our numbers remain small, and we must rely on the friendship of the Mohawk to secure our position against both the French and other hostile tribes.”

—Adapted from a report by a Dutch merchant in New Netherland, c. 1650

Which of the following best explains a key difference between the Dutch relations with Native Americans described in the excerpt and the pattern of British-Native relations during the seventeenth century?

  1. A
    The Dutch established a system of coerced Native labor modeled on the Spanish encomienda, whereas British colonists relied on trade rather than land acquisition.
  2. The Dutch focused on trade alliances and maintained a relatively small colonial footprint, whereas British colonists established permanent agricultural settlements that led to direct competition over land.Answer
  3. C
    The Dutch treated all Indigenous tribes as a single, homogenous group to simplify their trade networks, whereas British colonists formed separate alliances based on tribal differences.
  4. D
    The Dutch relied on hereditary chattel slavery of Native populations to grow cash crops, whereas British colonists in both New England and the Chesapeake relied exclusively on European indentured servants.

Answer

The Dutch focused on trade alliances and maintained a relatively small colonial footprint, whereas British colonists established permanent agricultural settlements that led to direct competition over land.
The correct answer shows that the Dutch focused on building trade networks and alliances to secure furs, keeping their population density low, whereas British colonizers prioritized agricultural expansion and family settlement, which directly competed with Native populations for territory.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus passage to identify the key characteristics of Dutch colonization described by the author.
The author notes that the Dutch focus is on trade (beaver and otter skins), their numbers remain small, and they rely on specific alliances (with the Mohawk) to secure their position.
To establish a baseline understanding of the Dutch colonial model as presented in the text.
2
Compare these Dutch characteristics with the historical patterns of British colonization during the seventeenth century.
Unlike the Dutch trade-and-alliance model, the British sent large numbers of settlers, including families, to establish permanent agricultural communities, which led to intense conflict over land.
To identify the contrasting colonial goals and demographic structures that shaped their respective relations with Native Americans.
3
Evaluate the options to find the statement that accurately reflects this difference and avoid options containing historical misconceptions.
The statement describing the Dutch focus on trade alliances and small footprint versus the British focus on permanent agricultural settlements is the correct choice.
To select the option that matches the historical evidence and the context of the stimulus.

Key Concept

European and American Indian Relations
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

European and American Indian Relations

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