Analysis Of David Walker's Appeal To The Coloured Citizens Of The World

"My beloved brethren:—The Indians of North and of South America—the Greeks—the Irish, subjected under the king of Great Britain—the Jews, that ancient people of the lord—the inhabitants of the islands of the sea—in fine, all the inhabitants of the earth, (except however, the sons of Africa) are called men, and of course are, and ought to be free." (Walker 267). A civil rights activist, David Walker, wrote these words one-hundred and eighty-five years ago, in his essay called Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World. During this time abolitionists were trying to stop the addition of more slave states as part of the Missouri compromise (Shi and Mayer 267). This is a powerful message—a call to all of the people in the world. That is why documents like this are so important when looking at history. The literature and propaganda of a period (primary source documents) can give us a glimpse into the minds of those who lived before us. Major conflicts between the settlers and Indians would shape the course of the nation (Richter 41). That is why the key to understanding early American history, from settlement to 1840, is Native American and European contact, and the literature and propaganda that surrounded them.
When the settlers first arrived in America both settler and Indian alike noticed

differences that would eventually lead them to conflict. The Europeans saw the natives as "Barbaric" (Foner 11) Historian Eric Foner explained the stereotypical European view of Indians as so, "Early European descriptions of North American Indians as barbaric centered on three areas—religion, land use, and gender relations" (Foner 11). The Indians practiced an animistic religion with multiple gods and spirits so they were considered inferior (Foner 16). Another value that put settlers at odds with Indians was that didn't believe in ownership of land (in a European sense). Europeans set up farms and practiced intensive agriculture in plots they claimed ownership of (Foner 11). The Indians on the other hand moved about freely so Europeans concluded that they squandered their land and resources. Gender relations were a problem as well because the Indian men allowed women to practice agriculture while the men hunted. Hunting was considered a sport in Europe and agriculture a man's job. These differences would put the two groups at odds and cause many problems.
Since the settlers were very different from the Indians they didn't care much for their safety, or the fact that they were often near them. As the settlers numbers grew and grew they started to expand into what was considered Indian land (Richter 49). This movement particularly occurred in Virginia (Shi et al. 23). The Governor William Berkley of Virginia had given land grants to his friends and business partners essentially creating a very corrupt government (Foner 102). Although Indians did not keep portioned off plots of land, they did have boundaries and agreements with local government as to where they belonged (Foner 102). To encroach on this land was illegal for white settlers. This caused turmoil between the government and settlers because people wanted to own land in Virginia, but were either forced to rent land or move into Indian Territory (If they wanted their own) (Foner 102). Settlers that moved into Indian Territory were often at the mercy of the local Indians (Foner 102). The Indians would steal items, kill settlers, and perform other acts considered criminal in European society (Richter 66).
Nathaniel Bacon was outspoken about the treatment of the settlers by the government and Indians, so he voiced his opinion in a document titled Bacons Manifesto. Bacon was tired of the Indians and the corrupt government. Of the corrupt government he says "...spounges have suckt up the Publique treasure" (Bacon 25) speaking of the corrupt Governor Berkeley and his people. He continues saying "and wither it hath not bin privately contrived by unworthy favourites and juggling Parasites whose Tottering fortunes have bin repaired and supported by the Publique chardg" (Bacon 25) showing that not only have they corruptly gained land but the people have paid taxes for them to do so. Bacon then speaks of settlers disdain for Indians when he states, "Another main article of our giult is our open and manifest aversion of all, not onely the foreign but the protected and darling Indians"(Bacon 25). This is clear that he states he hates not a single tribe, but every Indian foreign and domestic. The last point he makes is how the Indians have been former enemies of Britain, (true in some cases) as well as "Robbers and Theeves and invaders of his Majesties'"(Bacon 26), pointing out that the people had been criminalized by the Indians yet, "have by persons in Authority bin defended and protected even against his Majesties Most loyall subjects" (Bacon 26). This showed a historical viewpoint that many settlers had and as previously mentioned was shown through the strong cultural medium of propaganda in Bacons Manifesto.
After the settlers had enough of Governor Berkeley's policies they decided to rebel against him. This was the start of what was called Bacon's Rebellion (Foner 102). Nathaniel Bacon was the leader of this rebellion which would ultimately go to Jamestown and burn the whole city (Foner 103). Governor Berkley left frightened before they arrived and Bacon became in charge of all of Virginia (Foner 103). It would take a group of English navy ships to come and eventually quell the rebels, who after the ordeal were hung (Foner 103).
To really grasp history one must look at both sides of strongly debated issues so in this case we have seen the views of the settlers and now we must try to understand the Indians perspective during this time. Let us look at the grievances of the Natives. The Indians were forced to acculturate, through religion and social practices (When the colonies became large enough), removed from their land, introduced to disease, and taken advantage of through many treaties that were not upheld (Richter 67). They do not have very many written literature in terms of natives themselves but one character that stood up for them was Bartolome De Las Casas.
Bartolome De Las Casas was a Dominican priest that was part of the Catholic Church missionaries that had gone to Mexico with Hernan Cortes. In his writing In Defense of the Indians De Las Casas addressed the maltreatment of Indians saying "They are not ignorant, inhuman or bestial. Rather long before they had heard the word Spaniard they had properly organized states, wisely ordered by excellent laws, religion, and custom..."(De Las Casas 3). De Las Casas then further shows the flaws in the Spanish reasoning when he adds the thoughts of a Roman historian Trogus Pompey:
"Nor could the Spaniards submit to the yoke of a conquered province until Caesar Augustus, after he had conquered the world, turned his victorious armies against them and organized that barbaric and wild people as a province, once he had led them by law to a more civilized way of life."(Pompey qtd. in De Las Casas 3).
What De Las Casas goes on to imply is that at one point the whole nation of Spain was considered "barbaric", and not until they were civilized and conquered by the Romans were they able to fight back.

Not only does he question that but he says that the conquistadores are now calling the Indians violent because they are fighting back against their invasion. He counters them by implying that if one thinks in this train of thought the Spanish wrongfully rebelled as well against the Romans (De Las Casas 4). If they actually believed this idea then they wouldn't even be a nation. De Las Casas is obviously an ardent supporter of the Indians and is able to support his argument

well.
Now that we have seen both viewpoints of the European and native contact we can better understand the period that was the settlement of America to 1840. This interaction spoke for the whole country and continent. Between the settlement and 1840 people felt that they were entitled to "rights" at whatever cost. Nathaniel Bacon wanted land from people that had been there before him, (Indians) and he should have the right to kill them. Slavers thought they could enslave African-Americans because they believed they had the right to make money in commercial agriculture and that black people were somehow inferior. This time period was one of standards that were hypocritical. A self-proclaimed Catholic conquistador such as Cortez would kill, steal, and lie to Indians for self gain. These would all eventually be corrected by the greater populace who would come to see wrongdoings in their actions but it also would take strong words and actions to change them. That is why strong views like that of David Walker are so important because they bring upon universal truths such as those said by David Walker "...all inhabitants of the earth...are, and ought to be free." (Walker 267)