Question

In “Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America,” Franklin asserts that the colonists are the true “Savages” (not the Native Americans). Identify two arguments he makes to prove his case. Are these arguments effective? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Answer: Franklin asserts that the colonists are the true “savages” and not the native American because he says:

When any of them come into our towns, our people are apt to crowd around them, gaze upon them, and incommode them where they desire to be private; this they esteem great rudeness.

Franklin is explaining that “civilized” people in America does not know how to treat those who are different, instead of being polite and educated, they surround native Americans as if they were not people, but animals, who are strange and deserve looks of astonishment and confusion. The civilized people cannot be considered and put themselves in the place of these people, which is standing in a complete new place surrounded by strangers.  

Another argument that Franklin brings about is the fact that colonizers invaded native American territories never asking for permission and treating them as savages when they were in fact behaving as barbarians. He compares it to what would happen if a native American entered in a white man’s home.  

"If I go into a white man’s house at Albany, and ask for victuals and drink, they say, ‘where is your money?’ and I have none, they say, Get out, you Indian dog”

Native Americans always had to put up with the colonizers impositions and they never received some gratitude in return. Whereas Native Americans are examples of politeness and wisdom, white man had always act like savages, showing the worst side of humans.  

Answer 2

Benjamin Franklin puts forward some arguments that he uses to justify his statement that the colonists are the true savages and not the Native Americans. His statements have helped historians to understand the societal patterns of Native Americans, and thereby negate colonial representations of them.  

Further Explanation:

The colonists have painted the lives of Native Americans in a way that necessitated to impose colonial rule upon them in the garb of introducing them to ‘civilization’. Benjamin Franklin stated that the colonists called them savage only because their societal rules and political organizations were different from that of the colonists. However, the Native Americans had a strict code of conduct which could easily rival the most sophisticated British social customs. They lived an organized way of life, in tightly knit closed groups which were amiable and were formed on the basis of kinship.

Franklin highlighted the societal rules of Native Americans by observing their structured political organizations. He says that these men are excellent huntsmen and are excelled in the art of weaponry, and become the elders of the Council who govern the tribes together. Their wisdom and experience in political affairs are unparalleled to any British statesman. All adult members take part in making political decisions, and there are no interruptions during speeches made in the assembly. There are no institutions to keep law and order as offenders are collectively punished by the Council. All important decisions are taken collectively. This is in sharp contrast to that of the British Society, where dishonesty and greed are rampant. Franklin also highlighted the interactions between the colonists and the Native Americans, as the colonists surrounded them with unwanted stares, there was no such gesture on part of the Native Americans, who despite their heightened curiosity had no direct interactions.

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Answer Details:

Grade: High School

Chapter: The colonization of North America.

Subject: History.

Keywords:

Colonization, orientalist viewpoint, colonial history, Native Americans, complex social patterns, organized political structures, interaction with the colonizers.