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Difficulty: EasyEuropean and American Indian Relations

Roger Williams, *A Key into the Language of America*, 1643:

'I present you with this key, that it may open a way to a more friendly and peaceable intercourse with the natives. It is a truth, that the English have done them much wrong in taking their lands without just purchase, which has been the ground of all our troubles and wars in these parts.'

The opinions expressed in the excerpt most directly reflect which of the following sources of conflict between English settlers and Native Americans?

  1. A
    The enforcement of the Spanish encomienda system on local indigenous populations
  2. Disagreements over land ownership and colonial expansion for agricultureAnswer
  3. C
    The expansion of large-scale tobacco plantations utilizing Native American labor
  4. D
    The resistance of a single, politically unified Native American empire to European trade

Answer

Disagreements over land ownership and colonial expansion for agriculture
The correct answer is correct because Roger Williams explicitly identifies the unauthorized seizure of Native American land by English colonists as the root cause of the conflict and warfare in New England. This aligns with the historical reality that English colonial models relied on permanent agricultural settlement, which necessitated direct displacement of indigenous populations.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the core complaint raised by Roger Williams in the text.
Williams highlights that the English have taken Native American lands 'without just purchase,' leading to 'all our troubles and wars.'
Understanding the source's focus on land acquisition is key to identifying the historical conflict.
2
Match the complaint to the broader patterns of English colonization in New England.
Unlike the French or Dutch who focused on trade, the English established permanent agricultural settlements, making land ownership the primary source of conflict.
Connecting the specific primary source details to regional colonial characteristics confirms the correct answer.

Key Concept

English colonization in New England focused on agricultural settlement, leading to persistent conflict with Native Americans over land ownership and resource encroachment.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

European and American Indian Relations

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