Slavery vs Native Americans

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African & Native Americans during the first half of the 19th Century The policy towards African and Native Americans did not evolve significantly. Although the Native Americans were treated much better than African Americans, the policy towards them did not evolve much during the first half of the 19th century. African Americans just like Native Americans during the colonial period were not treated equally as the whites. During the colonial period not all African Americans were slaves. Some African Americans were treated as indentured servants that worked to pay off debts, and some African Americans were even slaveholders themselves. Not all African Americans were regarded as slaves and were treated as such. Slaves during the colonial period had to endure harsh treatment such as working in fields from sun up to sun down. They were only provided enough food to keep them healthy enough for work and had to work six to seven days of the week. During early colonization, the Native Americans were either conquered or exploited like the African Americans. The Native Americans were seen as a threat during early colonization as the Europeans were more concerned with exploiting North America’s natural resources than actually establishing colonies. Jesuits missions in New France were to try and persuade the Indians into Christianity and adapt to the European way of life. The Jesuits learned the Native American languages and traveled to where they had potential converters. New Netherland colonies formed bonds with the Indians, as the Native Americans were the major peltry supplier to the Europeans and the Native Americans protected their hunting territories. In Jamestown, Virginia, the English colonies relied on Indians for food. The Indians exchanged foodstuff for guns and swords from the Europeans. Eventually a clash of trade and a desire for more land led to
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