Essay, Research Paper: Comparing French And English Relations With Native Americans

The relationships with the Native Americans when dealing with the French and
English, were both a rough journey. At first the French seemed to have the upper hand in
their relationship of trading furs in Europe. Furs from the skins of deer, beaver, and other
animals were all taken in the 1600s. The job of trapping the animals came from the Native
Americans. They also collected their furs, and then traded them to the French. This trading
business made for the shape of New France. Long, narrow colonies were built along the
waterways of the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes to insure great transporting
opportunities. Although, the trading not only brought profit among the French, but also
warfare among the Native Americans over hunting territory. This quarrel let the French to
form the Iroquois League. They fought with the Native Americans in the middle and late
1600s. The French won the battle, forcing the Native Americans to migrate west of the
Great Lakes. The English were also building new colonies. They began a region known as
New England, which included the northeast region of the United States along the Atlantic
Coast. This land, called the New England Colonies, later became the states of Connecticut,
Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Religious conflicts
arose very soon after just one successful colony in New England. Some of the English
wanted a "purer"� kind of church, so they were called the Puritans. There were also the
Separatists, who started separate churches of their own. Although, both groups were
persecuted for their beliefs. Some Separatists, called Pilgrims, looked for more freedom to
worship in North America. They sailed to New England on the Mayflower. Upon starting
their colonies at Plymouth Colony, the Pilgrims had many problems. Although, with the
help of the Native Americans, they were taught how to plan corn. This lead to the feast of
Thanksgiving in the fall of 1621. The English seemed to have a more leveled relationship with
the Native Americans than the French did. The French were more interested in the fur trade,
as the English were more interested in their settlements and religion.