White Americans held complex and often contradictory feelings towards Native Americans, but a dominant sentiment, especially among those on the western frontier, was characterized by fear and resentment, largely driven by the desire for land.
Diverse and Evolving Sentiments
The feelings of white Americans towards Native Americans were not monolithic and evolved over centuries, influenced by various factors such as geographic proximity, economic interests, religious beliefs, and political ideologies. However, a pervasive narrative often cast Native Americans as an obstacle to progress and expansion.
Driven by Land and Fear
For many white settlers, particularly those living on the western frontier, Native Americans represented an unfamiliar and alien people. This unfamiliarity, combined with competition for resources and territory, often bred fear and resentment. White settlers frequently perceived Indigenous peoples as occupying land that they desired and believed they rightfully deserved, fueled by concepts like "Manifest Destiny" which posited a divine right for Americans to expand westward across the continent. This belief contributed significantly to the pressure for land acquisition and the displacement of Native American communities.
Key Aspects of White American Views:
- Desire for Land and Resources: A primary driver of negative sentiment was the coveting of Native American lands for agriculture, mining, and settlement. This often led to conflict and the belief that Indigenous populations needed to be removed.
- Perception of "Otherness": Native Americans were frequently viewed as culturally, racially, and religiously inferior. This "othering" dehumanized Indigenous peoples and justified policies of conquest, removal, and forced assimilation.
- Fear and Stereotypes: Frontier settlers often feared Native American resistance to encroachment. This fear contributed to the widespread propagation of stereotypes portraying Native Americans as "savage," "primitive," or "hostile," regardless of their actual actions or diverse cultures.
- Economic Competition: As settlers moved west, they competed directly with Native Americans for hunting grounds, water sources, and other vital resources, further exacerbating tensions.
- Paternalism and Assimilation: Some white Americans held a paternalistic view, believing it was their duty to "civilize" Native Americans by converting them to Christianity, teaching them farming, and integrating them into white society. This often involved suppressing Indigenous languages, religions, and cultural practices.
Impact on Policy and Relations
These sentiments profoundly shaped U.S. government policy and interactions with Native American nations throughout history.
| Sentiment/Belief | Impact on Policy/Interactions |
|---|---|
| Land Desire/Manifest Destiny | Led to forced removals (e.g., Trail of Tears), broken treaties, and westward expansion. |
| Fear/Stereotypes | Justified military campaigns, massacres, and the establishment of reservations. |
| Paternalism/Superiority | Drove assimilation policies, establishment of boarding schools, and attempts to suppress Native American cultures. |
| Economic Competition | Resulted in conflicts over resources and land, often leading to violence and displacement. |
For instance, the tragic events leading to the Trail of Tears vividly illustrate how the desire for land, coupled with deep-seated prejudices, led to the forced displacement of thousands of Native Americans from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States.
While some individuals and groups advocated for fairer treatment or understanding, the dominant narrative and government actions largely reflected the widespread fear, resentment, and desire for territorial expansion prevalent among many white Americans.
