Cultures Clash

A major cultural barrier between Native American and the white settlers was the settler's wish to impose the standard of their society upon a people who represented an entirely different way of life. 

Indians were condemned for a lack of cleanliness when it was a well known fact that settlers rarely bathed more than once a week and used large qualities of toilet water instead.  Yet they viewed the Indian and "dirty"!

Settlers refused to see the customs or economic demands of the Indian, nor were they interested in understanding them. 

Demonstrating derision and outright racism in their judgments, they were quick to judge Indians as poor specimens  of humanity.  Native customs and culture were seen as needing eradicated by the "enlightened white civilization" To intermarry, for instance, was considered both a shame and a disgrace to the country.

In my opinion, reactions to Indians culture and customs of a a once proud and self sufficient people was just intolerant, ignorant and heartless.

Note:  Let me close this post by saying that I am not a Native American, nor were my ancestors, nor do I have any Indian blood in my veins...my family tree goes back to a man named White on the Mayflower, but do we have to share blood to see how greed was the governing factor in the way we treated the Native Americans?  It is a truly sad commentary of the wonderful period of pioneer history which I love so much...just so you know!

Next...The custom of Hospitality