This article focuses on the perceptions of the explorers, and their treatment of the New World as an Eden of sorts.  Their belief in the existence of mythical civilizations, such as Atlantis shows why they might believe America to be a land of unrealistic bounty.  Because their belief in this utopia of America, they were naturally looking to safeguard their claim against the Native Americans, whom they perceived as nearly evil.  Seeing their different customs and culture, the early explorers assumed that these Native Americans were a great threat, going so far as to call them cannibalistic even.  This reflects the European explorers’ assumption that the Indians were a challenge to what they believed was their inherent claim on America. 

The Conquistadors that were stranded with Cabeza de Vaca were unique for those who came in early contact with the Native Americans.  In reading his account of his time spent stranded in America, it is clear that Cabeza de Vaca was very benevolent toward the Native cultures.  The beginning of his time trapped in America was spent fighting the Indians he encountered, but he and his men also greatly relied on the Indians.  His constant observations of the Indians show that even if he did not have respect for, he at least showed interest in their different customs.  The attempts he made to assimilate himself to their culture shows his willingness to accept them.  Although Cabeza de Vaca expressed interest in and respect for the natives, it is also clear that he had a desire to introduce them to Christianity.  In his accounts, he distinguishes between the Europeans and the Native Americans as “The Christians” or the “Indians”, respectively.  This makes it clear that the biggest difference between them, in Cabeza de Vaca’s eyes is their religion, or lack thereof.  When he is forced to act as a medicine man, instead of a plain cut into the sick, he and his men cut a cross to heal them.  It can be believed that it was an attempt to introduce them to Christianity, perhaps even without their knowledge or consent.   There is a challenge presented to the Europeans by the Indians religion, because they must either go against their own and follow the Natives’ practices or attempt to convert them. 

In “The Narrative of the Captivity of Mary Rowlandson” her relationship with her Indian captors is documented.  The very beginning of the text makes it obvious that Mary Rowlandson is from a very pious community and is herself incredibly devout.  This intense commitment to religion that the early colonists felt explains why they, including Rowlandson, see the Native Americans as a challenge to their faith.  The Indians are seen as a threat because of their pagan style religion, which the colonists have been taught to ardently resist.  When Rowlandson is held captive by the Native Americans she more than once compares them to creatures of Satan, which shows that at this point in history, the Americans have no desire to interact with the natives at all. The colonists hope to stay safe within their faith, as far from the threat of their conflicting religion. This is a dramatic change from the early exploration of America, where the explorers’ goal was to become as involved in the Natives’ religion, with hopes of converting them to Christianity.

This painting shows a challenge that faced the early settlers in America: their dependence on the Native populations.  From the painting, it is clear that the colonists have a treaty of some sort they are reviewing with the Indians.  The colonists seem more focused on their Indian counterparts, judging by their body language.  The natives are going about their lives all around, as though nothing significant is happening, showing their independence of the settlers.  While both parties could most likely benefit from the treaty, the colonists stand more to gain, like knowledge of the land for travel and crops, and other invaluable wisdom the Indians posses.   Most successful colonies in early America had some dependence on the native population, which inherently presents a challenge to the Americans, since their desire was to conquer and claim the territories. 

In the Indian Autobiography, the discussion of the removal of the Native Americans is brought up, thus bringing up the debate on the morality of the situation.  The Anglo-Saxon population of America was ironically the people who were to determine whether or not to relocate the Indian population, and naturally brought up the arguments about the rights the Native Americans had.  There were those who were compassionate for the Indian population, and wanted to see them relocated in order to preserve their culture and noble demeanor or wanted to see them be left be, in their homes where they had lived for generation after generation.  Those who did not care for the native population were eager to remove them in order to make more land available and open a path for western expansion.  This challenged the white American people because of the moral debate that ensued: whether they had the right to relocate the Indians, and on what grounds was it acceptable to do so.  Ultimately, Jackson took office and in the 1930s the Indians were forcibly removed from their homelands to the West, but the constant challenge of how to treat the Native Americans lived on for many years, and even still continues to plague America today.

This painting shows the Anglo-Saxon population’s solution to the challenge of expanding America around the Native Americans.  The Trail of Tears was the forced removal of the Indian populations of the East, and then the relocation of them in the West.  Thousands of Native Americans were killed on the long walks, and even though the pain and suffering of the Indians is obvious in the painting, it actually shows them with luxuries they were not afforded, such as blankets and horses.  The American people found it problematic that the Indians were in between their established country and their territory they hoped to develop.