Question

Two areas of misunderstanding between the Puritans and the Native Americans were religion and the role of women in the two societies. Describe how the two groups differed on those two issues. How did the massacre affect the relationship between the colonists and the Native Americans? How did it impact colonial - and eventually U.S. - policy toward Native Americans?

Answer 1

The Puritans and Native Americans differed in their religious beliefs and societal structures, particularly in the role of women. The Pequot War marked a turning point in relations between Native Americans and colonists, with future U.S. policy reflecting the colonists' disregard for Native lives and cultures.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Puritans and the Native Americans greatly differed in their religious practices and the role of women in their societies. The Puritans placed a heavy emphasis on their version of Christianity, with figures like John Eliot establishing "praying towns" in efforts to convert Native Americans to their faith. For their part, the Algonquians had no political or religious unity, and their societal structure differed from the patriarchal society of the Puritans, particularly in the role of women and community sharing.

The massacre of the Pequot tribe by the Puritans in 1637 during the Pequot War considerably strained the relationship between Native Americans and the colonists. The violence and dominance displayed by the Puritans were indicative of future policy towards Native Americans, which was characterized by the aggressive expansion of settlements and disregard for Native lives and culture.

Colonial attitudes towards Native Americans eventually found their way into U.S. policy, culminating in actions such as the Indian Removal Act and the reservation system, both of which served to displace and oppress Native populations.

Learn more about Puritans and Native Americans Relations