English Land as a Basis of Liberty

The English thought the Indians were not using their land in a useful manner and felt that they could actually use the land in many ways (better) and gain in many areas. The English viewed the land as the basis of liberty because the more land a person owned the more power of authority they assumed by feeling a pride of ownership. The English viewed their pride of ownership as a basis of power and liberty. The more land they owned the more crops they could cultivate and the more money they could make and send back home. The more money the English made the easier it would be to spread their religion and have more people convert to their religion, which would empower their church more and more. The “Owning land gave men control over their own labor and, in most colonies, the right to vote.” (Liberty 59). With the pride of ownership came the power of owning their land and that turned into power of voting. The English saw land as liberty. Whereas, the Indians viewed the land as free for anyone and not able to be owned. The Indians viewed the land in an appreciative / respectful manner by only using what they needed for survival and not necessarily for financial gain like the English. The Virginia People were given 50 acres of land. They were looking for instant wealth by mining gold and silver. The New England People received land grants from the Government, which were divided into housing lots with room far farming. As a community they worked hard together. The English felt they knew how to use the land in a better, effective manner with financial and religious gains compared to the Indians. The English forced and tricked the Indians into giving them their land. Obviously the English started conflict with the Indians which led into retaliation. The English wanted the land for financial and religious gain, whereas the Indians valued the land for food, shelter, and survival. The Indians did not use the land for any gain, they respected the land, only used what they absolutely needed for themselves for a means of survival as did their past generations of family members; not for profit. The conflict became evident after they were forced and tricked out of their homes (land). The English made the Indians dependent on them for a means of survival because the land was their shelter and food (hunting) and the English took everything they had (land).