Doug Ahlgren

Indians as Slaves--Questions:

Why do you think the tribes in Brazil and the Carolinas were unable to unite against the European settlers?

The Portuguese used the Indian revolts as an excuse to begin taking slaves.  Do you think that they would have found a different excuse eventually or was this just an unfortunate turn in history that sparked the idea of Indian slavery?

Do you see any parallels to this idea of accidental economic dependence on slavery in our modern society? 

Berger seems to suggest that the early system of Indian slavery set up the later demand for African slavery.  Do you think this is true or do you have any other insights on this idea?

Indians as Allies--Questions:

Why were the Iroquois so much more diplomatically astute than the tribes in the Carolinas and Brazil?

How did the Iroquois exploit the rivalries between the British and French in order to pursue their own goals?

In what way did the result of the French and Indian War effect the future of the Iroquois?

If the Iroquois had sided with the United States in the Revolutionary War and or the War of 1812 do you think this would have changed their position in history?

Why do you think the Iroquois League became so fragmented by the end of the War of 1812?

 

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