access of newcomers, who have supplied all our wants, for Cattle, and
the fruits of our la[b]ours, as board, pale, smiths work etc: If this should
fail, then we have other means which may supply us, as fish, viz: Cod,
bass and herring, for which no place in the world exceeds us..Our civil
Government is mixed: the freemen choose the magistrates every
year...and at 4 courts in the year 3 out of each town (there being 8 in all)
do assist the magistrates in making laws, imposing taxes, and disposing
of lands: Our Churches are governed by Pastors, Teachers ruling Elders
and Deacons, yet the power lies in the whole Congregation and not in the
Presbytery [not in a larger council of churches] further than for order and
precedence. For the natives, they are near all dead of the smallpox, so
the Lord hath cleared our title to what we possess."
--Letter written in Boston from John Winthrop to Sir Nathaniel Rich
Mounting Conflict with Native Americans by John Winthrop (05/22/1634)
Which statement best describes the colonist’s attitude towards Native
Americans?
They felt the land belonged to both of societies and that they needed to work out
land treaties.
They were worried about the spread of disease among Natives and if it could spread
to their settlements.
Due to their Christian beliefs, they had compassion for and respected the Natives'
traditions.
They felt their religion was superior and that God had foreordained them to control
the land they settled.
1 answer
The statement that best describes the colonist’s attitude towards Native Americans in the excerpt by John Winthrop is:
They felt their religion was superior and that God had foreordained them to control the land they settled.
This is evident in the way Winthrop refers to the deaths of Native Americans from smallpox as "the Lord hath cleared our title to what we possess," suggesting a belief that their presence was divinely sanctioned and that they had a rightful claim to the land as a result.
