Seeing Red: European Perceptions of Native Americans

By William Miskinis

I. Stereotypes

• What is a stereotype?

I. Stereotypes

• A stereotype is a broad generalization of a particular group of people. The generalization is usually negative.

II. Savages

• During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Europeans made first contact with Native Americans.

• Many Europeans, both in Europe and North America, considered the Native Americans to be savages.

• What do you think is meant by the word “Savage”?

II. Savages

• Europeans stereotyped Native Americans as savages who were lazy, ignorant and violent.

III. Noble Savage

• Some Europeans had a different stereotype for the Native Americans.

• They considered them to be Noble Savages.

III. Noble Savages

• When Europeans considered Native Americans as Noble Savages, they thought all Native Americans were ignorant and technologically backwards, but pure of heart and law abiding.

III. Noble Savages

• This perception was in part encouraged by Thomas Harriot, an Englishman who wanted to convince his king to support colonization of the New World.

• He wrote A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia

III. Noble Savages

• The following images, engraved by a man named Theodor de Bry, are taken from Harriot’s book.

• Keep in mind Harriot’s purpose as we examine the images!

IV. Why Stereotype?

• But WHY did Europeans stereotype Native Americans either as savages or noble savages?

IV. Why Stereotype?

• If Europeans thought that Native Americans were savages, it gave them justification to be prejudiced against them, to steal from them, even to harm them.

IV. Why Stereotype?

• If Europeans convinced other Europeans that Native Americans were Noble Savages, then Europeans might support colonization as a way to trade with Native Americans.

Review

• 1. What was the Savage Stereotype?

• 2. What was the Noble Savage Stereotype?

• 3. Why did Europeans create these stereotypes?

• 4. Do these stereotypes still exist today?