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| fig. 2 This shows the chief Long Lance who rejected the peace settlement. |
The main cause of the Native American Genocide was the battle over land. The indigenous peoples of America "have suffered various forms of extermination ever since they were “discovered” by Europeans”(Gellately). Ever since the Europeans discovered new lands, they have battled and tried to take it over. Their belief in Manifest Destiny made them think it was their right to take over the Indians' lands. The Europeans held "expectations of easy victory....over inferior Africans”(Gellately). This shows that the Europeans felt they were superior to all other groups of people and that they would be victorious against groups such as the Native Americans. The Europeans are on the top of the world back in that time with their highly trained armies and new inventions helped them take over the lands of North America. When the colonists from Europe proposed peaceful treaties to the Native Americans, they rejected them. This sparked major conflict between the groups and brought about a conflict that continued on for hundreds of years.
