The Colonization Of North America Essay

For civilization to evolve, changes must be made. Imagine what the world would be like if the Natives were just alone and no country migrated to North America. Would technology even exist? Would the main weapons be just spears and arrows? Would medicine be invented so people could live long lives without dying of diseases? These are questions that will never have to be answered because the world evolved into a much bigger and better place. The English changed North America no matter what the cost was. Some may argue that the English are the ones to blame for King Phillip’s War, but that is not the case here. The Indians did not want change and overall, it did not work out real well for them. In this case, the war was brutal on both sides. The Natives did not change their customs as much as the English wanted them to. By not assimilating to European values and customs, the Natives caused the war over hatred of English values and traditions and made the world a dangerous place to live in.

Before the Spanish ship that changed it all, which arrived in the “New World” in 1492, there was a vast population of native people who had lived on this land for centuries prior. That ship, skippered by Christopher Columbus, raised arguably one of the most influential turning points in Native American and European history. It sparked the fire of cultural diffusion in the New World which profoundly impacted the Native American peoples and the European settlers.

North America was colonized by the English, but it was not easy. Many obstacles, such as religion, economy, and political issues sometimes halted or made the colonization of North America more difficult. Over time, the obstacles started to be easier to overcome. When colonies were established, there were a few different types. Each type of colony also had their differences. There were many struggles that came along with the attempts of colonizing North America, but some of the things that happened helped shape this country into what it is today.

Indigenous people in the Americas or “Indians” as Christopher Columbus first named them on an exploration voyage in 1492, had their lives completely change almost immediately upon the arrival of European settlers. Settlement in the “New World” as

Calloway employs lucid prose and captivating examples to remind us that neither Indians nor Colonists were a monolithic group... The result is a more nuanced appreciation for the complexity of cultural relationships in Colonial America... He surveys this complex story with imagination and insight and provides an essential starting point for all those interested in the interaction of Europeans and Indians in early American life." -- David R. Shi, Christian Science Monitor Although many Americans consider the establishment of the colonies as the birth of this country, in fact Early America already existed long before the arrival of the Europeans. From coast to coast, Native Americans had created enduring cultures, and the subsequent European

During the 15th century a man from Spain named Christopher Columbus estimated that five thousand miles of Atlantic waters separated the Canary islands in Africa and China. Columbus then proposed his hypothesis to Ferdinand, the King of Spain, and was given money for the voyage that could potentially open new trade routes from Europe to Asia. After 2 months of sailing, Columbus arrived in what today is known as the Bahamas. After discovering the new world, other European countries as well began their expeditions to North America after hearing about the new lands. England, France and Spain were the three main European countries that began colonizing modern day United States. But with their arrivals, they had to establish relationships with the natives, and not all European countries had the same relationships.

Why would anyone want to go through the trouble of colonizing? The English had such motives that compelled them to leave their motherland. It was for the reasons of seeking freedom, seeing there was nothing in Britain for them, and success accessed by other nations.

The history of Colonial North America focuses predominantly on the endeavors of England, France, and Spain to subdue the native populace and gain control of the continent. European colonist crossed the Atlantic for various reasons, and the countries from which they came approached colonization differently. How each European nation approached colonization directly affected many aspects of life in their respective colonies. These different approaches included the relationship with Native Americans, local governmental structure, locations of the colonies themselves, economic activities, religion, and even population growth. Each colony approached these areas differently creating both advantages and disadvantages that seriously affected their

The discovery of North America sparked a new era of exploration, expansion, and colonization. Many European countries took the opportunity to develop a new territory where they could prosper financially and benefit their home country as much as possible. The trip overseas was strenuous, as was maintaining positive relationships with Native Americans and running a successful colony. Although all European countries who showed interest in establishing territories in the Americas had their own reasons for doing so, some countries did a better job executing their colonizing than others. Britain, France, and Spain were the three most successful countries in terms of colonizing a new land for their country.

The settlers arrived on the east coast of North America where they first encounter the Native Americans. They spoke several different languages, raised crops, and some were even hunters. The Native American’s had a developed trade system and even traded their goods with many Natives. The first encounter between the Europeans and the Indians took place in the 1500’s.

The original inhabitants of the United States are commonly known as Native Americans, American Indians, and Alaska Natives, with American Indians believed to be the most indigenous group (Hagan, 2012). The term “Indians” was coined by Christopher Columbus who considered the native people as an inferior race (Hagan, 2012). At the end of the fifteenth century, the migration of Europeans to the America led to the exchange and adjustment between the Old and New world societies. Most natives lived as hunters and gatherers and the shared hunting ground and agricultural lands. The Europeans however had advanced in that they had property rights in place. These differences led to political tension and ethnic clashes. Most natives succumbed to European diseases to which they had not developed immunity.

The exact history of how we came to be is one that is still very much unclear and is constantly revised. Many cultures around the world hold their own creation stories about the creation of the world and how the people came to be. But we all have one thing in common, the Earth.

The colonization of North America is not a pretty story, to say the least. In order to colonize the land, the Europeans had to use slaves for manual labor; whether it be the African slaves in Barbados and Chesapeake, or the Native Americans mining for gold, or even orphan children working on farms. The colonial elites had to use force, persuasion, threat, and deceit to accomplish their goals and maintain control. Throughout history, we see many occasions in which one race enslaves another. But has it always been his way? Has it always been a racial slavery? The concept of racial solidarity is actually a product of the masters finding ways to keep the slaves in order. “Europeans' intrusion into the Americas profoundly altered the ways of

In the event of pursuing freedom, exploration, and goals, several people journeyed a crossed the shores, and oceans, to discover a land with plenty of provisions. Meanwhile, natural supplies were bountiful, in a woody environment, with a generous amount of land inhabited by both wildlife and humans. According to Perkins, “from small coastal footholds, the land stretched before the newcomers in majesty and mystery, while the inhabitants they met told of wonders yet unseen – of towering peaks and mighty rivers, of shifting sands and ancient cities, in a continent of unimaginable size, more than half of it covered by forest of fabulous density” (p.2). As of today, this land is identified as America, where

During the period of European colonization into North America the type of ethnic conflict that was occurring was Settlers vs. Indigenous populations. The main issue with this conflict was over land and territory. However, the conflict and response to the conflict needed to be justified so settlers pinned the indigenous people as inferior to themselves and savage, essentially making them unworthy to have control over the land. (Wolfe). This is the starting point of the ethnic conflict involving indigenous people in Canada, which in turn marks the beginning of the path for indigenous people to want rights and be their own people without being threatened by groups moving into their territory.