Native American Pluralism Discussion

Period 3

Characteristics of the Hohokam, Anasazi, Cahokia

• Animism

• More resourceful and conservation towards their environment

• Little to no desire to conquer • Different conceptions of private property

• Valued communication with natural forces

• Environmentally friendly for religious reasons rather than ecological • Driven by fear of spirits

• Dreams and visions important in their reality

Characteristics of the Pequot

• Designated gender roles • Women work just as much as men, typically involved in farming and manufacturing of

essentials

• Men built canoes and hunted

• Emphasis on sharing and spreading material wealth due to semi-nomadic nature

• government, - chief, sachem, representative of people. Chief controls property but representatives voice concerns to chief

• No political unity between ethnic groups

• Very efficient horticultural system

Characteristics of the Powhatan

• Women played the role of gatherers and tenders of crop

• Men hunted

• Chesapeake Bay region provided them transportation for trade

• Polytheistic culture worshipping, Okeus was the most worshipped because of fear component

• Algonquin warfare – go into tribe’s area, attack, retreat, and take casualties and still consider victory (strain of guerilla warfare

• Smaller chiefdoms under central leader Powhatan • More of a military alliance where all answered to Powhatan

• Council of veteran warriors

• Shamans wielded advisory power as well

Characteristics of the Iroquois

• No central political power to govern people

• Relied on ceremonies to keep peace between factions

• Made up of five nations called the Great League that maintained autonomy

• Different perspective of themselves than others had of them.

• Early enemies are the French and greatest ally are Huron in beginning

• Heavily invested in the Fur Trade

• America’s Sparta

• Mourning Wars as a form of retribution/adoption

• Vengeance is valued

A Cultural Comparison (P3)

Native American Groups

Respect for nature

Did not value material wealth

Less naval and firearm technology

Worshipped deities based on fear

No centralized political unity

Ritualized gender roles in occupation

European Groups Attempt to control nature (profit driven)

Expansionist and imperialist

Innovative in exploration knowledge

Largest motivations were material wealth and missionary zeal

Ethnocentrism