- Ohio History in 2000 Words
- Mound Builders
- Native Ohioans
- The Ohio Company
- Ohio's Wood Forts
- Indian Wars
- War of 1812
- Ohio's Canals
- Ohio's Road
- Scenic Railroads / Museums
- Underground Railroad
- Civil War in Ohio
It was less than a century before Europeans first arrived in the Ohio Territory before Native Americans arrived here and then they were just small clusters that were trying to flee the tribal wars going on in the east.
It was less than a century before Europeans first arrived in the Ohio Territory before Native Americans arrived here, and then they were just small clusters that were trying to flee the tribal wars going on in the east. Those small clusters multiplied over the decades. When Europeans began exploring the Ohio Territory there were 5 major Native American groups and a number of splinter groups inhabiting the land.
When the early Europeans began arriving in North America they found small clusters of American Indians. Some indigenous groups lived peacefully with their neighbors and welcomed these new fair-skinned people arriving in their big European ships. Other Native groups seemed to be in a constant state of war against everyone, including those just arriving. One of the first consequences of these friendly-unfriendly groups were that many Europeans found it difficult to tell the difference between them. Some encounters were peaceful and friendly. Other encounters appeared to be friendly but could turn violent. Europeans grew suspicious of ALL indigenous people with tragic consequences for everyone.
The indigenous groups had different languages, customs, and rituals unlike anything the Europeans recognized. Mistrust on both sides quickly developed and spread. Although these small enclaves had different technologies than the Europeans, they seemed to have the same hierarchy. Based on their dress and weapons, the Europeans made an assumption the Native Americans were a backward culture, ignorant, uneducated, perhaps even being a sub-human species and for almost 3 centuries, this was a widely held belief among many Europeans, particularly the English.
The Spanish were interested primarily in exploiting the Native Americans they came in contact with and converting them to Catholicism. The French seemed to have the best interactions with the Native Americans. They lived closely with them, setting up trading posts and making personal relationships. The English settlers, would be more likely to distrust the Native Americans and perhaps for good reason.
This level of thought setup almost 3 centuries of conflict and war that only in the last 75 - 100 years changed with any significant meaning.
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