Native societies in colonial North America were able to exercise power in some circumstances, as shown by historians Richard White and Pekka Hamalainen. White depicted the middle ground in the pays d'en haut region, where the conditions of the frontier, dependence on trade, and need for alliances allowed Native groups to negotiate relationships with New France. Hamalainen depicted the powerful Comanche Empire on the Southwest plains, where the Comanche exercised control through dominance on horseback and raiding of Spanish settlements. Both works show how environmental and strategic factors enabled Native peoples to maintain authority despite European colonial ambitions.

1. Based on your analysis, what political, environmental, cultural, or other
Native Power in Colonial AmericaAlthough European empires sought to control Native
people’s lands and lives in colonial North America, historians including Richard White and
Pekka Hamalainen have demonstrated that Native societies were able to exercise
considerable power in certain circumstances. For this essay, describe the middle ground in
the pays d’en haut (as depicted by Richard White) and the Comanche Empire in the
Southwest plains (as depicted by Pekka Hamalainen), making sure to discuss.) The
conditions that allowed each system to emerge.) How Native people exercised power in
each system.) How European empires (New France and New Spain) attempted to exercise
power in each system.Based on your analysis, what political, environmental, cultural, or
other factors helped Native people to exercise power in the colonial era?Note: for this
question, you may use only two readings—White and Hamalainen.