Historical Agency In The 17th Century

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Often, North American history is perceived from the European mindset of superiority over the indigenous groups that were there prior. However, the underlying reality is much more complex than what is commonly accepted. Deep seeded relationships between the Natives and Europeans, both animus and amiable, created intricate societal structures in which Native Americans were able to exercise historical agency over the European immigrants seeking to gain. Historical agency can simply be defined as the control over the social and cultural development of one group of people relative to another. Following the arrival of European powers in the 17th century, indigenous peoples exercised historical agency through controlling trade networks established …show more content…

However, it is vital to remember that the New World was not unpopulated. Rather, there were many people groups present who were facing their own dynamics, the Huron people for example. With the establishment of Quebec, the Huron people became close allies with the French. The French formed a relationship with the Huron in order to trade furs for other material goods. While this did allow the French to increase their wealth, the Huron people were the ones wielding the power in this alliance. Based on their needs and wants, the Huron people could choose to trade or cut it off; in the end, the French wanted the furs more than the Natives wanted the goods brought in. A Delaware Indian wrote, “It is told us, that you and the French contrived the war, to waste the Indians between you; and that you and the French intended to divide the land between you: this was told us by the chief of the Indian traders; and they said further, brothers this is the last time we shall come among you.” This notion further proved the idea that the Natives were in fact aware of the European intentions, allowing them to control what they supplied to them. Fueled by this, the Huron people had agency over the French and were able to grow their power with French support. Take, for example, the animosity between the Huron and Mohawks. The French went and supported the Huron in their battle with the Mohawks in order to please the alliance. Had they not done so, the Huron people, the one’s supplying them with precious and valuable furs, would cut the supply, causing the French to lose massive wealth. It is important to remember “the French were not inherently kinder empire builders than the English, but their settlement of Canada did not require any substantial appropriation of Indian lands… the French were never in a position to impose their will by force of arms on the Indians in general.” The Natives

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