Savages

For many years, children across the nation have been taught a particular version of history. This history includes near-mythological, benevolent heroes escaping religious oppression and forging forward to create a new world of morals, laws, and traditions. These stories are an amalgamation of truth, embellishment, and nationalistic fervor. From the very outset, school children are taught that Puritan pilgrims set sail from England to escape religious persecution and enjoy religious freedom in a new land filled with nothing more than natural resources and savage men. Upon finding these heathen natives, these benevolent pilgrims set about civilizing the savages by forcing upon them a different culture they felt to be superior mostly due to their religious views. Many of the views the colonists developed regarding the Native Americans were rooted in their difference in religious beliefs and the view that the native “heathens” had no such guidance or provenance. Pilgrims came to New England to escape persecution from their religious believes, what they did to the Indians about their beliefs and the way they lived was nothing short of Savage, the myths passed down that the Colonists were righteous and benevolent heroes is nothing short of an exaggeration.

The first misconception that as children one is led to believe that the Pilgrims and Colonists came straight from England. Separatist churches were not a serious threat during Elizabeth I reign, however member was considered a high crime.^[1] When James I took over ruling the country it seemed the religion of the Separatists rose in popularity, the only way he could think of ridding his land of the Separatists was to make them conform or leave. He wanted people to dedicate their lives to the Church of England. They in fact spent many years in Holland, because James I had tightened his hatred over different religions such what the Separatists believed.^[2] They believed they could live with religious freedom so most of them moved to live in Holland. They found they needed someone to smuggle them out of England, as they were wanted for their religious beliefs. The first attempt to make it to Holland did not go as planned and most were arrested. They had to gain permission from the government of Holland in order to stay in Holland, not being able to go home because they would be arrested for their beliefs and because they had disposed of their homes and possessions. ^[3]

When the Separatists otherwise known as Pilgrims arrived in the New England they were unsure of the things they would encounter. They had only heard of Indians or savages from the letters sent to England by those landed in Jamestown. They had hope that they could survive off the land long enough to set up a town and send good and resources back to England to form an economic trade. The Colonists were not prepared for the men and Indians they met. The Colonists only saw the Indians at a distance at first “They espied five or sixe people with a Dogge coming towards them who were savages; who when they saw them ran into the Woods and whistled the Dogge after them.”^[4] It would take some time before they would finally meet up and start a relationship. As well for each side to be comfortable enough with each other to open up trade or help. The next time the Colonists saw the Indians it was on December 8, 1620, they were camped out, when around midnight they were disturbed by the Indians war-cry. However, not hearing it before they thought it to be wild wolves or some other strange animal. “One of our company being abroad came running in and cryed, ‘They are men, Indians, Indians’; and withal their arrows came flying amongst us, our men ran out with all speed to recover their armes”^[5] That was not the kind of meeting the Colonists were hoping for in their new home. Their first encounter was a frightening attack rather than peaceful, the Indians only retreated once the Colonists reached their weapons. The first Indians that attacked the Colonists were called Nasuet, the first Colonist casualty was a boy named John Billington. ^[6] This was not a good start to the relationship. It was merely days later that the Indian Samoset made his appearance within the area the Colonists had chosen to settle.  According to William Bradford, the appointed Governor, “Besides, what could they see but a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wild beast and wild men…”^[7] William Bradford passes on his observation to his reader about the impression that he got from the Indians and the land of New England once they had set foot on land. He thinks that the land is hideous and desolate because they had arrived on a sandy beach, giving him the impression that entire country was the same way. As well as his impression of the Indians, thinking that they were wild men.