Diplomacy concepts and practice

Indian Diplomacy

The history of European settlement of the American continents is unfortunately one of subjugation. The Indian nations that had occupied and cultivated various areas of the land since prehistoric times found themselves negotiating with white invaders for terms on which they could keep -- and eventually would lose -- their land. This is often seen as a problem only between the early United States government and the Indian tribes, but in fact the problem goes back even farther, to the time when many European nations were competing for "New World" resources.

The Indian people as a whole were doing quite well when first "discovered"; many tribes had complex cities and social structures, while also loving in greater harmony with nature.

The Spanish had focused their attention on South and Central America early on, decimating entire populations with warfare and disease, heedless of any possible rights the Indians might have in their quest for gold and other wealth.

This came to typify the way European settlers and military commanders would deal with the Indian populations they encountered.

In the north, the Indians dealt more with the French and Dutch, and eventually the English. The first two groups dealt started as effective trading partners and were more in competition with each other, which led to better deals for the Indians as each nation attempted to offer them more in return for their cooperation.

Eventually, however, increasing competition led to a disregard for any Indian rights, and diplomacy was thrown out in favor of brute domination. Conflicts like the French-Indian war showed how little Indian welfare was thought of; the fight was really between the British and the French (with certain Indian tribes fighting on both sides) for control of the land and resources that these Indians had occupied for centuries.

The Indians did not practice politics in the same way as the Europeans, and so any efforts at diplomacy were doomed to failure because of the Europeans' greed and manipulation.

Identifications

Joseph Brant: Mohawk leader, eventual British officer. Family ties enabled him to straddle both worlds. Led his army in support of the British; remembered for atrocities his army supposedly committed and his attempts to keep tribal lands.

Wampum Belt: Wampum=certain sea shells. Used for trade, but not exactly currency. Different colored shells valued differently. Wampum belts were woven to commemorate special occasions/given as gifts. Also used a sort of writing/memory.

Hurons: Also called "Wendat." Occupied Ontario area. Iroquoian tribe. Moved villages every ten years or so to keep land fertile/forests thick. Disputes with other Iroquois intensified after receiving European weapons; Hurons almost entirely destroyed.

Squanto: Also called Tisquantum. Member of the Patuxet tribe. Captured and taken to England, where he is taught English language and culture. Returned to North America with John Smith in 1612. Helped early pilgrims survive the winter.

Pocahontas: Daughter of a chieftain. Encountered settlers/John Smith as an early teenager. Possibly saved his life. Marries John Rolfe and goes to England. Died of smallpox shortly thereafter.

Inca Empire: Empire founded in South America approx. 1200 C.E. Massive expansion began in 1442 under Pachacutec. Dispute between two brother princes led to civil chaos. Pizarros exploited this and conquered much of the Incan territory. People were not destroyed, however, and many traditions remain.