Unit-10
Displacing Indigenous People
Focus on North America and Australia, 18th-20th century,
(a) European colonists in North America and Australia,
(b) Formation of white settler Societies,
(c) displacement and repression of local people,
(d) Historians view point on the impact of European Settlements on indigenous population.
Q: Comment on any points of difference between the native peoples of South and North America?
Ans:-South and North America were home to many native cultures prior to their discovery and settlement by Europeans. However, among the natives of these continents there were many points of differences like:
1. Unlike the North America, the society of South Americas like Incas of Peru was hierarchical, with king at top, followed by priests, shamans, cultivators, craftsmen and slaves.
2. Basis of civilization in both Americas was agriculture but North Americans cultivated crops like maize and vegetables for consumption only.
3. Unlike the South Americans, the natives of North America did not maintain an empire. They were content with food and shelter provided by the land.
4. The natives of South America unlike North Americans were great builders. They built roads through mountains and forts. Labour was organised and tightly managed.
5. Among the Incas of South America, every subject was required to speak ‘Quechua’ the language of court. In North America the natives spoke numerous languages.
Q: Other than the use of English what other features of English Economic and Social life do you notice in 19th century USA?
Ans: It needs to be noted that most of the early settlers in North America were British- either convicts or younger sons of father who would not inherit the property of father and therefore were eager to own land in America and begin a new life. Thus, we may call America as Mini- England hence many similar features in their socio-economic life in 19th century like.
1. Capitalist System of Economy, Privatization of Land and Use of modern machines in agriculture.
2. To undertake large scale agriculture, vast areas were cleared of forests and divided into farm lands.
3. Total disregard for ecology while cutting trees to layout farms and hunting animals to the point of extinction.
4. Division of society into various classes and similarity in food and dress.
5. Both were Christians- either Catholics or Protestants.
6. Colonisation: like Britain, USA set up colonies at Hawaii and Philippines.
Q: What did the word Frontier mean to Americans?
Ans: for Americans the word did not mean any fixed boundary line, but ever changing and extending boundary line. America at the time of independence occupied a fraction of land. But freedom from British rule enabled them to extend the control to reach the present size.
In east, Americans reached along the shores of Atlantic Ocean and their border was secure. If there was any frontier it lay to the west which was kept extending by evicting the natives. These natives were induced or forced to move after signing treaties selling their land and pushed towards westward. The prices paid were low and there were instances when the Americans cheated them by taking more land or paying less than promised.
Sometimes land was acquired by purchase like Louisiana Purchase of 1803 from France and Alaska from Russia or by war- much of southern USA was won from Mexico. The construction of railways was a factor in changing frontiers as it helped to connect far flung areas.
In 1892 The US continental expansion was complete. The areas between Pacific and Atlantic Ocean were divided into States. There no longer remained the Frontier that pulled European Settlers for many Generations. Thus, for Americans the ‘Frontier’ was shifting one.
Q: Why was the history of Australian natives left out of History books?
Ans: The history of Australian natives was left out history books because:
1. Australia was discovered by James Cook in 1770, so it was assumed in European society that the History Australia begins with it. As captain Cook was killed by natives of Hawaii, the colonizer’s used the single incident as justification to whole sale violence and no attempt was made to give information about natives.
2. The natives had no script of their own, hence left no material for historians to refer to.
3. The convict who completed their jail term settled in Australia and displaced natives. This created an atmosphere of hatred and mutual suspicion between natives and settlers whereby they wrote nothing about natives.
4. Moreover, the settlers had an attitude that the primitive man deserved to die out. So probably this was the reason as to why they were not included in history books.
5. After 1974, Multiculturalism became the official; policy of Australia and equal respect was given to all races. W.E.H Stanner’s lecture ‘The Great Australian Silence’ and Henry Reynolds book “Why Weren’t We Told” about natives were the initial efforts to write about the natives of Australia.
Q. How satisfactory is a museum gallery display in explaining culture of a people? Give examples from your own experience of a museum.
Ans: Museums hold the rare historical, artistic or scientific things storing and exhibiting e.g, the Museum at Kashmir University. The Museums show historical evidences from the past that may be some writings, coins, sculptures, apparatus, clothes, skeleton etc. That may store and preserve different ways used for researches and findings.
Museums tell our bigger story so it is remembered and kept relevant. Their purposes are multifaceted so their role is not only about telling of historical facts. The roles can be about management, education, providing public access to collections, preservation and conservation and a number of others. They are safe houses for treasures but mainly they record what would be
lost otherwise. This custodial role is vital for preserving our history. People are curious creatures, and by our very nature fascinated with ourselves. Museums role also as one of satisfying this curiosity, seeing specimens and objects presented in glass cabinets was one of the earliest principles used.
Q. Imagine an encounter in California in about 1880 between four people: a former African slave, a Chinese laborer, a German who had come out in the Gold Rush, and a native of the Hopi tribe, and narrate their conversation
Ans: California is state in present USA which lies along the coast of Pacific Ocean. In 1880, here lived an African Slave Mobbuta, A Chinese Laborer U-Min, A German trader Marshal and a native of Hopi tribe named Hi-Phe. Slavery was abolished in USA in 1861, thus Mobbuta was a free slave.
1. Mobbuta:- Mr. Marshal, you came here in 1850 as a trader in gold, you earned a lot of wealth because of hard work. So you built a grand palatial house. It is your greatness that you invite us for dinner sometimes. We are thankful to you.
2. U-Min:- I fully agree with your view Mr. Mobbuta. Mr. Marshal besides being rich is a nice man who cares for everyone including me who works as a laborer in his gold mine.
3. Hi- Phi:- I agree with both of you. Mr. Marshal is an angel on earth. He saved the life of my wife one day when she was in pain and transport was off the roads. He took her to hospital in his own Car.
4. Marshal:- I have been living here from many decades and I have forgotten about my country. People like you give me so much love and affection that I feel pleasure to be in your company.
Q. Briefly discuss features of White Settler Colonies?
Ans: The word settler is used for the Dutch in South Africa, The British in Ireland and New Zealand and Australia, and Europeans in America. The European settlements in these lands were called as Settlers. This led to many natives being pushed away from their lands. The official language of these colonies was English except in Canada where French was spoken. When European inhabitants of these colonies became independent from mother country, these colonies became states or countries.
Q: Define Imperialism?
Ans: Imperialism is an attempt by one country to dominate other either by direct rule or by less obvious means such as control over markets for goods or raw materials.
Q: Define Native?
Ans: Native means a person who is born in the place he lives in. Till 20th century the term was used by Europeans to describe inhabitants of countries they had colonized.
Q: What are Wampum belts?
Ans: Wampum Belts were belts made by natives of America, of Colored shells sewn together. They were exchanged by native tribes to mark a formal alliance after a treaty was agreed to.
Q: What was Trail Of Tears?
Ans: US President A. Jackson without respecting the chief Justice John Marshals judgment of 1832 regarding Cherokee tribe of Georgia ordered his army to evict the Cherokees from their land and drive them to Great American Desert. Of the 15,000 Cherokees who were forced to go, over a quarter died along the way. This episode in US history is called as Trail of Tears.
Q: What were Reservations?
Ans: Westward expansion of Americans resulted in natives being pushed towards west and a piece of land where they were locked off in perpetuity called as reservation.
Q: What is Gold Rush?
Ans: The term Gold Rush relates to rushing of thousands of Europeans in the 1840’s to America in the hope of making a quick fortunes when traces of gold were found in USA in California State.
Q: Define the Term Aborigines?
Ans: Derived from Latin ‘Ab’ means from and ‘Origines’ mean the beginning. The aborigines are original inhabitants of a country. The word also refers to peoples of new lands colonized by Europeans and especially to Australian Aborigines.
Q. Who was Judith Wright?
Ans: Judith Wright was an Australian writer and champion of Aborigines rights.
Q: Who were Torres State Islanders?
Ans: Torres State Islanders are the natives of North Australia but not among Aborigines.
Q. The Indian Reorganisation Act of 1934?
Ans: The Indian Reorganisation Act of 1934 gave natives of America in reservation right to buy land and take loans.
Q. Join The Mainstream Means?
Ans: Join the main stream implied that natives would adopt European culture and abandon their modes of separate identity.
Q. Terra Nullius means?
Ans: Terra Nullius means belonging to nobody. The Australian govt always termed the land of Australia as Terra Nullius or belonging to nobody.
Points to remember:
1. “The Great Australian Silence” was a lecture about Aborigines by WEH Stanner in 1968.
2. “Why Weren’t We Told” is a book written by Henry Reynolds in which he condemned writing of Australian History beginning with Captain Cook’s discovery.
3. Dream Time: According to native tradition, the natives did not come to Australia but had always been there. The past centuries were called the “Dream Time”, something deficult for Europeans to understand.
4. Settler: A settler is a person who moves to any other country and established a permanent residence there, often to colonize the area.
5. The natives of North America came from Asia through a land bridge across Bering Straits around 30000 years ago.
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