Essay Sample on The Founding of Maryland

📌Category: Colonialism, History, History of the United States, United States, World
📌Words: 505
📌Pages: 2
📌Published: 28 January 2022

Unlike the many other American colonies, the Maryland colony had peaceful and diplomatic relations with the indigenous peoples of the region. However, decades later, during times of war, those relationships would change for the worse. Before the colony's founding in 1632, the area that we now call Maryland was home to a variety of Algonkian-speaking tribes: the Accomac, Nanticoke, and Wicomico lived on the Eastern shore while the Susquehannock, Yaocomaco, and Piscataway lived on the Western shore. George Calvert, a former government official of King James I, was granted land north of the Potomac by King Charles I (son of King James I). Calvert wanted to create a colony where Roman Catholics, like himself, could live free of judgment and persecution. After Calvert's death, his son Leonard, the new governor, began searching the area for an optimal place to start a colony. Near the Saint Mary River, he came across a Yaocomaco village. Seeing the potential of the area, Calvert struck a deal with the tribal leaders to buy their village and land. As Calvert’s father, George Calvert, strived to treat Native Americans fairly, the deal was mutually beneficial. The Yaocomaco, who were already planning to move out due to conflicts with the neighboring Susquehannock, gained wealth from the purchase while the colonists were able to get their hands on land that had already been cleared as well as a fortified village where they could live until they were able to build houses of their own. Additionally, before they headed west, the Yaocomaco also helped the colonists by teaching them about the native plants, and which were edible, in addition to how to grow food staples like corn. All the skills the Indians taught and the tools and gear they sold to the colonists would be the key to the European's survival in a new land far away from home. However, not too long after, the Yaocomaco and other tribes started to head west to escape the conflict and disease the Europeans had brought with them. Decades of conflict continually worsened the relationships between the Indians and British, therefore leading to the French and Indian War (otherwise known as the Seven Years War). The war pitted the British against the French and Native Americans and would start with a grave yet memorable loss for the British. As told by William Dunbar in his account of Major General Edward Braddock’s defeat at Fort Duquesne, the initial 1100 men on the expedition to the fort ended with 823 men wounded or killed. On their way to Duquesne, the British were ambushed by hiding Indian forces. Dunbar explains how “[the army was] unaccustomed to [the Indian’s] way of fighting,” which eventually led to his men “[turning] their backs, & [leaving] the Enemy in possession of every Thing.” The devastating loss at Duquesne, led to the death of Major General Edward Braddock, leaving Dunbar in charge. Instead of retaliating again, Dunbar “withdrew his demoralized forces” and led them on a long retreat to Fort Cumberland, Maryland, leaving the frontier wide open for the French and Indians. In the colony’s bare beginnings the indigenous peoples, who had helped the colonists establish and maintain their new colony in a fairly unknown land, were now the cause of devastating losses for the British decades later.

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