Reference no: EM133642678

Assignment:

The root cause of the conflict, as illuminated by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz in "An Indigenous Peoples History of the United States," was the aggressive acquisition of Indigenous nations' territories and resources by European settlers. According to Dunbar-Ortiz, this historical injustice involved "With a large part of Indigenous nations' territories and resources in what is now the United States taken through aggressive war, outright theft, and legislative appropriations, Native peoples have vast claims to reparations and restitution, or repatriation of lands acquired by the United States outside valid treaties" (Dunbar-Ortiz, 137).

The native American Indians and the European settlers, who represented different European powers like the English, Spanish, Dutch, French, and Swedish, were the participants in this struggle. Dunbar-Ortiz highlights their significance: "The indigenous American Indians and the European settlers who began colonizing North America were the leading players in this historical struggle."

Dunbar-Ortiz emphasizes the diversity among the Native American tribes in relation to the number of factions/nations engaged, pointing out that "Many Indian tribes demonstrated resistance to colonialism, and coalitions were established across tribes to thwart the invading whites." This shows that there are numerous unique countries and groups among the indigenous peoples, all of whom are united in their opposition to colonialism.

The various sides in this conflict viewed the situation differently. European settlers, driven by a different racial attitude, sought westward expansion into Indian territories, leading to at least 177 conflicts. Dunbar-Ortiz notes, "The European settlers, driven by a different racial attitude, ventured westward into Indian territories, encountering at least 177 conflicts." Conversely, Native Americans faced significant challenges, including the devastating impact of diseases introduced by European colonization. The quote, "As a result of European colonization, new illnesses like smallpox and measles were introduced, severely decimating Native people who lacked the protection that Europeans had acquired," highlights the adverse consequences faced by indigenous populations.

In conclusion, European settlers' aggressive annexation of native lands, in which American Indians and European settlers played key roles, was the primary cause of the conflict. As evidenced by direct quotes from Dunbar-Ortiz's text, various factions and nations among the indigenous peoples formed coalitions to resist colonization. The sides saw the conflict differently, with the indigenous peoples facing challenges and devastation from introduced diseases and the European settlers seeking expansion.