The arrival of Europeans to the New Jersey area as well as America at large had influenced dramatically the development of native communities and their traditional lifestyle. In this respect, it is worth mentioning the fact that the native population of the New Jersey area developed its own, unique culture, though the level of social, political and economic development of the native population was relatively low, compared to more advanced civilization of Central America, such as Incas and Mayas. No wonder, Native Americans inhabiting the New Jersey area proved to be unable to resist to the colonization and domination of Europeans in the area.
Speaking about the life of Native Americans before the European colonization, it should be said that the area was inhabited by Lenni-Lenape, who were the dominant group in the area until the arrival of Europeans (Nash, 128). Basically, Native American communities lived in small settlement, many of which were provisional. Their principal socioeconomic activities were hunting, though, in the course of time, they started to develop agriculture. However, agriculture was poorly developed and it was mainly concerned with cultivation of corn, which was the principal plan in the area used by the local population. The maintenance of contacts between local communities encouraged exchange, which practically substituted trade for the local tribes.


On analyzing the social structure of the native population of the New Jersey area, it is important to lay emphasis on the fact that local communities were comprised of clans. The formation of clans was matrilineal, which means that females played determinant role in the definition of familial links within native communities (Nash, 144). Nevertheless, communities of Native Americans inhabiting the New Jersey area were not matriarchal. Instead, men played the dominant role, while the matrilineal formation of clans was apparently the result of the dominant role of women in the epoch when tribes lived from hunting and gathering and women contributed substantially to the survival of tribes.
The traditional life of local tribes had changed dramatically after the arrival of Europeans. In fact, Europeans had started the colonization of the continent and they viewed the local population as subject to their expansionist policies. Europeans took lands and territories belonging to the native population and forced Native Americans out of their territories westward in the depth of the continent (Billings, 224). In such a way, Native Americans had to flee from their native territories that was often accompanied by the change of their economic activities and lifestyle.
At the same time, those Native Americans who stayed in the area were even under a greater threat than a change of economic activities. Firstly, they were subject of the constant oppression from the part of Europeans (Cunnighan, 147). Secondly, Europeans often traded out goods, such as furs, timber, which they needed the most and gave practically nothing to Native Americans in return, or, what is worse, they gave them alcohol in return. As a result, the native population suffered from alcoholism which grew widely spread among Indians. In addition, Europeans brought new diseases Native Americans had not immune protection from that led to numerous deaths among them.
Thus, the development of native communities in the New Jersey area had been dramatically changed by Europeans forever. Europeans became the dominant group which had a destructing impact on the local communities.

Custom essay writing services ESSAY-911.com. Essays to buy!