Native Genocide

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History Booklet on Native Indian Genocide Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee         Columbus discovers America 1492 (October 12, San Salvador), giving the Native Americans the names Indios. "So Tractable, so peaceful are these people, that I swear to your majesties there is not in the world a better nation. They love their neighbours as themselves, and their discourse is ever sweet and gentle, and accompanied by a smile; and though it is true that they are naked, yet their manners are decorous and praiseworthy." However Columbus being a righteous European was convinced they should be "made to work, sow and do all that is necessary to adopt our ways."   Over the next four centuries (1492-1890) several million Europeans and their descendants undertook to enforce their ways upon the people of the New World. Columbus kidnapped ten of his friendly Taino hosts and carried them off to Spain.  One died shortly after arriving and being baptized. The Europeans were so pleased with this that they hastened to spread the good news throughout the West Indies.   The Tainos and other Arawak People did not resist conversion, however, they did resist when  hordes of these strangers began scouring the land for gold and precious stones. They burned and looted villages, killing or kidnapping any who resisted, shipping them off to Europe to be sold as slaves. Arawak
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resistance brought on the use of guns and sabres; whole tribes were destroyed. Within a single decade, hundreds and thousands of people had already been killed.Because communication between tribes of the New World was slow, and use of the European barbarities spread as much the same speed as the European conquest. However, it was known that English men had much subtler methods then Spaniards. An example of English methods was when the English in Virginia in 1607 crowned Wahunsonacook as King Powhatan and convinced him that he should put his people to work supplying the white settlers with food. When ...

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