English Views of Native Americans During Catholic-Protestant Conflict in the New World Essay

English Views of Native Americans during Catholic-Protestant Conflict in the New World During the 16th and 17th century, as settlers from Europe continued to flock to the New World, technologies were being introduced that affected English views of Native Americans and how they saw Catholic, or more specifically, Spanish treatment of the Natives. Many countries wanted superiority in the Americas and to do that they needed more colonists and support from their homelands. To accomplish these goals different means were employed. For England, the New World settlements served a variety of purposes. To secure investors through stock purchases by showing them they would be well rewarded, attract new colonists, and to expand Protestantism in the New World to combat the Catholic movement in the Americas (text 38). Helping in these goals were new technologies that created some of the first propaganda. Many people in Europe feared the Native Americans, thinking of them as savage and uncivilized. Unrest and this fear among the people probably caused many to avoid even entertaining the thought of transplanting themselves and their family to an unknown continent. In 1588 Thomas Harriot published the first pamphlet about life in the New World. Describing great weather, fruitful land, and a wealth of goods these writings encouraged people to travel across the Atlantic. Along with him, painter John White, portrayed the Native Americans as a peaceful people that could easily coexist with Europeans. Taking liberties from these paintings, Theodore de Bry, a protestant from Belgium, made copperplate engravings of civilized Indians. These pictures and views of the Natives had a widespread appeal across England and alleviated fears of the New World which encouraged more settlers to take the voyage and more investors to purchase stock in colonizing companies. One of the biggest battles in the New World was between Catholic and Protestants to control the Americas. During this time Spain was the envy of Europe. With a large navy they were one of the most powerful armies in the world, wealthy, and boasted many colonies in the New World. Several countries, especially England, looked upon Spain with disdain. England being a Protestant country and Spain Catholic did nothing but increase the tension. Public opinion was very important in this power struggle. In 1598 Theodore de Bry republished Bartolome de Casa’s â€Å"Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies (text 38-39)† which helped win supporters for the Protestant movement and England’s prerogative in the Americas. Originally this book was written in 1541 about Spanish mistreatment of the Indians. De Casa’s writing along with de Bry’s graphic illustrations horrified people of the torture and killing of Indians by the Spaniards. The Protestants saw the Catholics as agents of the devil who needed to be purged from society in the New World. Ironically this thinking was hypocritical as almost all countries, including England, mistreated the Native Americans throughout colonization and for centuries to come. Many travel accounts were written over the years that portrayed a frightening and exciting New World to the Europeans. While most of these accounts were written based on opinion and very little facts, they had an important place among society and were very powerful in swaying people’s opinions about Native Americans, the New World, and rival European nations. New technologies of publishing and illustrating at the time helped spread these documents ideas and opinions faster than ever and we saw for possibly the first time ever a propaganda war.