Book Reviewed: Calvinists and Indians in the Northeastern Woodlands by Stephen Staggs

Colonization of North America by the Dutch Calvinists This book documents the history of Dutch colonists (1566-1664) invading the Native American land of northeastern woodlands that included parts of Canada and the United States. The interaction of Dutch and indigenous peoples in America is a history of war, cultural clashes, competition for scarce resources, conversion to the religion of New Testament, inter-dependence, and racism. When the Dutch arrived in the northeastern woodlands which was ruled by the five nations of the Iroquois League formed in the 15th century that controlled present-day New York, Pennsylvania, the Great Lakes, and parts of Ontario. The confederacy included the Mohawk, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca, Tuscarora, Lenape (also known as the Delaware), and others Native American tribes. The Lenape were later pushed out of their homeland to Oklahoma. Calvinism is a branch of Protestantism based on the teachings of John Calvin, a French reformer of 16th century. His theology emphasized the fate of humans were pre-established after Adam and Eve’s sin. But seeking the divine grace of God is necessary for salvation. His teachings did not give importance to divine birth and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but taught that leading an austere and pious life was important to find the grace of God. Dutch Calvinist leaders were interested in spiritual, social, and economic opportunities in their colony. But reality did not match the idealistic expectations. In fact, few Natives were not interested in the new reformed faith presented to them. But things changed after the English takeover of North America who used aggressive and brutal methods to impose their belief system. The author goes “lightly” on the conflicts between Calvinists and the natives but describes their efforts to proselytize the indigenous people into Christianity with the hope that they are advancing the “lost souls” into the folds of their religious order. But the natives were uninterested in the colonist’s belief system, but they continued to practice their cultural and sacred rituals to find connections with nature and the creator. The Kieft's War (1643–1645) which natives fought with Dutch colonists was brutal that resulted in significant casualties on natives is not discussed adequately by the author. The description of the early history of Dutch colony does not make the reading any interesting.