Quakers

Quakers are known for the peaceful and anti war beliefs since their start in the seventeenth century. However, the Quaker’s history isn’t left without it’s share of violence. Which, in part, led to the creation of the state of Pennsylvania.

Much like the early years of Christianity, Quakers faced severe persecution and hate[1]. Wanting to escape religious persecution, they started colonies in Rhode Island and North Carolina. However, life continued to be hard for the Quakers in America. History shows Quakers being tortured in New York and even beheaded in Boston.

In 1682, William Penn sent out a pamphlet, Some Account of the Province of Pennsylvania, across Europe encouraging fellow Quakers and others who were being religiously persecuted to make a journey to America. You were promised 50 acre head rights, 200 acre farms at a penny per acre rent and for 100 pounds you could own your own country estate.

Pennsylvania was hardly a wilderness; remnants of the New Sweden colony were still in the area and helped the new Quaker settlers. Do to the openness of the invitation and help from the Swedes, Pennsylvania’s population grew rapidly. Germans settled Germantown in 1683, Welsh Quakers founded Radnor and Haverford and English Quakers, or the Free Society of Traders, started Philadelphia. In 1684 Penn was quoted, “I have led the greatest colony into America that ever any man did upon a private credit, and the most prosperous beginnings that were ever in it are to be found among us[2].” By 1685, the population was near ten thousand.

The Quakers had a huge influence in American society. They were instrumental on the abolishment of slavery. In 1733, Germantown started to publish articles in opposition of slavery. Quaker’s were also large activists for proper treatment of the mentally ill. In 1796, a tea merchant named William Tuke, started the Retreat in York. Unlike other institutions at the time, at the Retreat patients were treated with the dignity that Quakers believed was in every human being.


[1]Morison, Samuel. The Oxford History of the American People. New York: Oxford University Press, 1965.
[2] Morison, Samuel. The Oxford History of the American People. New York: Oxford University Press, 1965.
[3] Faragher, John, Mari Buhle, Daniel Czitrom , and Susan Armitage. Out of Many: A History of the American People. New Jersey: Pearson, 2006.

Genocide

Howard Zinn, and to an extent the authors of Out Of Many, make a point of drawing attention to the horrific treatment of the Native Americans at the hands of Christopher Columbus and those who followed in his path. While I agree that the “genocide” of the native Americans was terrible, it wasn’t unusual. It was simply the strong prevailing over the weak.

Before Columbus even had the thought of heading west, Indian tribes were killing one another. The Aztecs ruled with fierce oppression, sacrificing and enslaving neighboring groups that we’re weaker. Wingina, an Indian chief on the East Coast, wanted to use the English as a tool to conquer rivals in the area. Many Indian groups were peaceful, but Zinn works incredibly hard to make the Native Americans seem harmless and completely peaceful.

When the Europeans came, so did their diseases. Zinn makes it sound like it was a conscience effort on their part to bring disease to the Indians. I find it very unlikely that people five hundred plus years ago fully understood the concept of antibodies and immunity to disease. The outbreak of disease that followed the Europeans path just happened to be a convenient weapon added to their arsenal. Once they did figure out that disease was on their side, one can’t really blame them for using it to its full advantage. It wasn’t in their power to cure the Natives or prevent outbreaks, and a people that sailed over treacherous seas for several months are hardly going to stop, apologize, sail back home and leave brand new lands to themselves.

Throughout history, one group of people has conquered another, never without bloodshed. The Romans slaughtered countless nations and peoples. The Mongolians went west and killed virtually everything in their path. Hitler and Nazi Germany did their best to take over Europe and anything that didn’t subscribe to their way of things. Strong attacking the weak. It happens in elementary schools everyday. Europeans found a new land that promised riches, land and slaves. Almost every nation in human history would have done the same thing as Columbus and the other conquistadors.

I not trying to argue that what happened to the Native American people wasn’t terrible, but I am saying that it shouldn’t be a surprise. Decency on a national level, is a fairly new concept. Slavery and cruelty were abundant for the history of mankind and it is hardly fair to look down at Columbus and judge by today’s standards five hundred years later.

Zinn, Howard. APeople's History of the United States. New York: The New Press, 2003