POWERFUL SPIRITS: NATIVE AMERICANS AND ALCOHOL IN COLONIAL AMERICA

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POWERFUL SPIRITS NATIVE AMERICANS AND ALCOHOL
IN COLONIAL AMERICA
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North America, 1750
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New France
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New Spain
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Europeans in North America
English Colonies New France New Spain
Land Demands Huge Small Small
Migrants Huge Small Small
Furs Skins Central Central No
Indians Prior Exp. / Alcohol No No Yes
Alcohol Trade Critical Critical No
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English Attitudes to Native Americans

• Ethnocentric Perspective
• Language
• Clothing
• Settlements
• Type of Economy
• Marriage
• Gender Roles
• Concept of Land Ownership
• Existence of a Market Economy

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• Long-Range Goal of Colonists
• Radical Cultural Transformation
• Two Conditions for Cultural Conversion
• God and Trade

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• Trade of Pivotal Importance of Trade Because of
  English Mercantile Thought
• Expulsion of French After 1763 Underlined
  Preeminence of Trade

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Drinks Role in Reinforcing Stereotypes

• Consumption of Alcohol in England
• Heavy
• Successfully Integrated into English Society
• Cultural Norms,
• Wide Experience Government Legislation

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• Stereotype of Indian Consumption of Alcohol
• Indians Cultural Inferiority
• Importance of Christianity and Commerce

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Indians Drinking Habits

• Colonists Assumptions
• Addiction
• Immediate Consumption
• Determination to Get Drunk
• Violent Behavior

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• Validity of These Assumptions
• One Accurate View
• Evidence Contradicting Other Assumptions

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Indian Consumption of Alcohol I

• Inborn Enzyme Deficiency?
• English Rationale for Selling Alcohol to Indians
• Demand
• Civilizing Influence
• Profitable
• Land Acquisition
• Create or Maintain Alliances

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Indian Consumption of Alcohol II

• 6. Gift-Giving Rituals
• Toasting
  Customary at Treaty Meetings
• English Authorities Gave Alcohol to Native
  Americans

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Indian Motives for Drinking Alcohol I

• Four Factors
• Demand
• Hospitality Rituals
• Mourning Ceremonies
• Sacred Substance with Supernatural Powers
• Communicate with Spirit World
• Mourn a Love Ones Departure

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Indians Motives for Drinking Alcohol II

• 4. Demographic Catastrophe
• a. Decline of Indian Population, 1607-1763
• b. Chief Cause Epidemic
  Diseases, Intertribal Warfare and Conflict with
  Land Hungry Settlers
• c. Impact Frustrations, Anger and Sense of
  Powerlessness
• d. Alcohol Provided a Means of Escape

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