Research Paper on:
Fur Trade and Iroquois' Fur Trade Wars of the 17th Century

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
allowed them to trade "trinkets" for furs, but never understand their neighbors. Various internal structures were already in place in the Iroquois Confederacy, which then dovetailed into the desire  for European goods, and accelerated warfare among the woodland tribes. The fur trade was definitely a component in play, but not the actual cause of increased and deadly warfare.  Bibliography lists 4 sources. BBiroquR.doc THE IROQUOIS 17thCentury "FUR TRADE" WARS Written by B. Bryan Babcock for the Paperstore,  Inc., November 2000 Introduction "As to the natives of this country, I find them entirely savage and wild, strangers to all decency, yea, uncivil and stupid as garden  poles, proficient in all wickedness and godlessness; devilish men, who serve nobody but the Devil ..." Reverend Jonas Michaelius in 1628. This attitude, generally expressed by the colonists, allowed  them to trade, "trinkets" for furs (Lerch ppg), and never really know their neighbors. Various internal structures were already in place in the Iroquois Confederacy, which then dovetailed into the  desire for European goods, and accelerated warfare among the woodland tribes. The fur trade was definitely a component in play, but not the actual cause of increased and deadly  warfare. Complicated system of alliances Political alliances among the Iroquois were divided into two categories: historical and cultural. There were virtually no military alliances based on practical considerations, since  wars were not fought for conquest or destruction (Lerch ppg). Lack of central organization: The key in this type of organizational or tribal structure is that nobody can force  any other member of his/her society into any actions, for which that individual did not volunteer. Commercial alliance: The other type of alliance, which was much more subject to