Lies My Teacher Told Me - Assignment Example

Lies My Teacher Told Me1. What is the difference between the myth of the “first Thanksgiving” and what actually took place?The difference between the myth of the “first Thanksgiving” and what actually took place is vast. They typical story of Thanksgiving is pilgrims upon discovering America were starving, so Native Americans helped them with a great feast including turkey, squash, and other foods. The reality is the natives had already settled in the area for millions of years. Upon arriving the Europeans thought they were better than the natives.

Some natives were enslaved, but many more were killed by plague and massacre. The ‘help’ that was given from the natives toward the settlers was forced. The true celebration was not for founding America, but from massacring natives.2. List 3 of the impacts, described by Loewen, that European settlement (colonization) had on Anishinabe (Native) people in the 1600s. The first impact was the plague. Diseases from European animals like cowpox becoming smallpox, chickenpox, and other diseases.

This created a plague that killed the Anishinaabe. The second impact was the taking of land. Land and resources once available became unavailable due to the settlers fences, armies, and settlements. Finally, another impact was the loss of life and freedom. Natives were enslaved, or massacred. 3. Why did the Wampanoag people ally with the Pilgrims?The Wampanoag people allied with the pilgrims due to the weakening of the tribe due to the plaque. After losing so many tribe members, the Wampanoag leader wanted to have help from other native tribes.

He was especially concerned about the Narragansetts in the west. However, the Wampanoag tribe was decimated by a fresh outbreak of smallpox. By the time the tribe recovered a little bit, the settlers had taken over the land and villages once inhabited by the natives.4. Identify one major difference between the Anishinaabe and European worldviews, as explained in this chapter. The main difference between the natives and European worldviews was regarding nature. The Europeans believed territories and lands were made to conquer.

Europeans did not just believe land was to conquer, but to be exploited as well. Gold, timber, sugar, crops, and other things could be mined from new land. The natives believed that they did not own the land. They took what was needed, but left the rest. Europeans wanted dominance over nature. That was what man was put on Earth for. The natives did not want dominance, but peace with nature. This was the main difference between the two peoples.