Why was coexistence with the Indians important to the colonies?

They needed each other to survive

Explanation:

An understanding of the necessity of coexisting with the Native Americans. A view has developed that so-called greedy white men took the Native Americans’ lands and drove them away. This view is not historically accurate. Relations between the colonists and the Native Americans were quite complex and developed over time. In the earliest days of the colonies, the Native Americans helped the colonists survive and learn to thrive in their new home. This policy was not based entirely on generosity. The Native Americans were divided into many rival groups. They wanted the colonists to help them in their competition with other tribes. For instance, the Cherokee allied themselves with the Carolinians to defeat the Yamasees. The English colonists also wanted the Native Americans as allies in their disagreements with the French. Although the Native Americans and the whites had their struggles, each group understood that they needed the other in order to survive.

the articles of confederation only set up the continental congress at the federal level. there were no executive or judicial branches except within the states. the states were allowed to keep every right that was not specifically given to congress. the bonding of the states was through a 'firm league of friendship' that best served as a defense agreement against invasion. states were not allowed to use taxes as a way to discourage treaties, and states were extremely limited in their dealings with foreign nations.

not many historians today talk about the strengths of the articles of confederation, likely because of how unpopular the document quickly became. the articles did set the legislative body, congress, as the highest power in the nation because of the fear of monarchy. congress had the sole power to declare war, assign treaties, entertain foreign relations, and operate post offices. disputes between states and territorial issues were to be brought to congress. the document also stipulated that canada was allowed to enter the union if they desired.

there were more weaknesses than strengths under the articles of confederation. the lack of power given to the continental congress strangled the federal government. the articles gave congress the power to pass laws but no power to enforce those laws. if a state did not support a federal law, that state could simply ignore it. congress had no power to levy taxes or regulate trade. without a federal court system or executive leader, there would be no way to enforce these laws, either. amending the articles of confederation would also require a unanimous decision, which would be extremely difficult.

- "the past is made of multitudinous items ranging from anything that can be collected, recollected or assessed to originate in the past. as such, the past is a gallimaufry of particulars that may not have been related in any way. however, the human mind seeks organization to understand concepts and other things. the human mind therefore seeks relationships in explaining and studying the past. history being a humanity, dictates that historians have to serve this human trait by bringing structure to details of the past. historians do this by creating interpretive frameworks that capture as many details as possible."

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