Examkin

Question

Difficulty: HardEuropean and American Indian Relations

"We know our Lands are now become more valuable. The white People think we do not know their Value; but we are sensible that the Land is everlasting, and the few Goods we receive for it are soon worn out and gone. . . . [Y]ou have more People than we, and they can make Goods; but we have only our Land, which we cannot make, and which we cannot do without. . . . We must tell you, that you have encroached upon us, and have taken our Lands without our Consent, and we cannot live if you continue to do so."

—Canassateego, Iroquois leader, speech at the Treaty of Lancaster, 1744

Which of the following developments in the British colonies during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries was the most direct cause of the grievances expressed in the excerpt?

  1. A
    The expansion of New England Puritan praying towns into the Chesapeake region to assimilate Native youth.
  2. The rapid demographic growth of British settler populations and their demand for agricultural land.Answer
  3. C
    The enforcement of the Spanish encomienda system by British authorities to extract tribute from Native communities.
  4. D
    The implementation of the Navigation Acts to encourage unrestricted free trade between Native merchants and European markets.

Answer

The rapid demographic growth of British settler populations and their demand for agricultural land.
The correct answer is correct because Canassateego’s speech highlights the conflict arising from the rapid growth of the British colonial population and their subsequent encroachment onto Native American lands for agricultural settlement. Unlike the French or Dutch, whose colonies were smaller and focused on the fur trade, the British colonies relied on large-scale migration and farming, which led to direct and frequent land conflicts with indigenous groups.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the provided historical document for clues regarding the source of conflict.
The Iroquois leader Canassateego objects to colonial encroachment on Native land, noting that the white population is growing rapidly ('you have more People than we') and taking land without consent.
Understanding the core argument of the primary source identifies what historical process to search for.
2
Relate the source's details to the characteristics of British colonization in North America.
Unlike the French and Dutch who focused on trade alliances with smaller populations, the British colonies relied on large-scale family migration, high birth rates, and agriculture, necessitating continuous expansion onto Indigenous lands.
This establishes the causal link between British colonial demographics and territorial conflict.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that accurately matches this demographic and territorial pressure.
The option identifying rapid settler population growth and demand for agricultural land is the only accurate representation of this historical cause.
This confirms the correct option based on historical context and textual evidence.

Key Concept

British Colonization Patterns and Native Relations
Estimated Time:2m 0s
Rate this question

Topics

European and American Indian Relations

More questions from this topic