Question

Which of the following was a source of tension between English colonists and Native Americans?

A. Native Americans constantly mocked the colonists for their weaknesses.
B. Virginia colonists found a variety of Native American tribes in the region with whom to form alliances.
C. Colonists refused to share their agricultural secrets with Native American tribes.
D. Native Americans and colonists often competed over the same natural resources.

Answer 1

Tension between English colonists and Native Americans arose due to competition over natural resources, conflicting land-use practices, and the colonists' encroachment and expansion of settlements into Native territories.

Step-by-step explanation:

One significant source of tension between English colonists and Native Americans was that they often competed over the same natural resources. This strain was evident in numerous conflicts such as the Powhatan wars in Virginia, the Pequot War in Connecticut, and more notably, King Philip's War in New England. Competition for land, differing concepts of land ownership, expansion of European settlements, and the colonists' desire to acquire more territory for cultivation and resources further exacerbated tensions. English settlers' introduction of livestock and their fencing off of lands clashed with Indigenous practices and perceptions of land use and stewardship, leading to frequent altercations and disputes. Furthermore, English attempts to enslave Native Americans and convert them to Christianity added layers of strain to an already fraught relationship. The British colonists' westward expansion after the French and Indian War notably heightened tensions, as settlers encroached upon lands occupied by Native Americans who were determined to defend their territories.