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Difficulty: EasyEuropean and American Indian Relations

We have now lived in this land for many years, and where we once found vast forests inhabited by the natives, we have cleared fields, planted crops, and built towns. Yet the natives look upon our growth with jealousy, claiming we trespass upon their hunting grounds. They refuse to submit to our laws, and we cannot permit them to live in lawlessness on our borders. Therefore, conflict is inevitable unless they either conform to our ways or depart further into the wilderness.

—Adapted from a New England colonist's account of relations with Native Americans, c. 1675

Based on the excerpt, which of the following best describes a major source of conflict between English colonists and Native Americans in the seventeenth century?

  1. A focus on agriculture and land ownership that led to territorial disputes and the displacement of Native AmericansAnswer
  2. B
    The adoption of the Spanish encomienda system to force Native Americans to work on agricultural plantations
  3. C
    A belief that all Native American groups belonged to a single, homogenous culture with no tribal distinctions
  4. D
    The immediate and widespread replacement of indentured servants with hereditary chattel slave labor throughout New England

Answer

A focus on agriculture and land ownership that led to territorial disputes and the displacement of Native Americans
The correct answer accurately identifies that the primary source of tension in the passage is land use and expansion. The English model of colonization was heavily based on agriculture, which required clearing land and establishing permanent settlements. This directly clashed with Native American practices of using vast areas of land for hunting, leading to territorial disputes, warfare (such as King Philip's War), and the eventual displacement of Native populations.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus passage for the primary source of tension between the New England colonists and Native Americans.
The passage identifies the clearing of fields, planting of crops, and building of towns by English colonists as the root of Native American concerns over trespassing on hunting grounds.
Identifying the core issue in the text helps connect the specific scenario to broader historical patterns of English colonization.
2
Relate the text's emphasis on land and agriculture to the characteristic colonization patterns of European powers.
Unlike the French or Dutch, who focused on trade alliances, or the Spanish, who integrated Native populations into labor systems, the English model relied on large-scale agricultural settlements, which displaced indigenous populations.
This contrasts the English model with other colonization models to identify the correct generalization.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that accurately describes this pattern without historical inaccuracy.
The option highlighting a focus on agriculture and land ownership matches both the passage's details and the historical reality of English-Native relations.
Selecting the option that reflects the core theme of the passage confirms the correct answer.

Key Concept

English Colonization Model and Native American Relations

Hints

1
Read the passage carefully to identify what the English colonists are doing to the physical environment and why the Native Americans are upset.

Practice More

Review the differences between the Spanish, French, and English colonization models regarding their interactions with Native Americans.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

European and American Indian Relations

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