First Contact with America - Essay Example

This paper discusses three regions that were in first contact with America. The paper analyses Europe, Africa and inhabited Wild America and points out the similarities and differences between these regions and America. First Contact with America The British have historical and culture ties with more countries in the world then any other nation or empire that every existed. It was British settlers that reached out and settled into areas that are now referred to as the United States of America.

This paper discusses what regions these settlers and their children came into contact with how their lifestyles differed from their new contacts. It is not hard to imagine that European influence was evident on all settlers and continued on for a substantial period of time. The settlers were mostly British and they brought with them their British lifestyle, culture, trends and traditions. Europe at this time was at its prime as the cultural centre of the World with poets, musicians, writers, artists and theatre whereas the settlers lacked this substantially.

The main reason for this was not the lack of talent but a preoccupation with settling into a new land and making it home. Another region that the colonists could not avoid was America itself with its native population of "red Indians" as they came to be known. The fact that these natives were called "red Indians" shows the British Influence on the settlers who had trade ties with the Indian Sub-continent. The early settlers learnt a lot from these natives who were well aware of their local land including sources of food, cultivation, weather trends and much more.

The colonist had much to learn from these natives even though the natives lived a life of which by most standards of that time could be referred to as a savage living. Native people were also familiar with Europeans as the French had traded fur with the natives throughout the 16th century. The settlers gave these natives the deadly gift of smallpox. Around 1615, smallpox or yellow fever (for which the Native population had no immunity) swept the coast. Many of the people who lived between Penobscot Bay (in present-day Maine) to the east side of Narragansett Bay (in present-day Rhode Island) died.

Not all Native communities were affected but it was a stark example of how interaction with the colonies spelt misfortune for the Natives. The settlers learnt to adapt themselves using native India knowledge and were successful in improving irrigations, cultivation and future settlement standards. Sadly it was what they learnt from the natives about the local land amongst other things that fuelled the desire for further settlement expansion and it was this expansion which eventually lead to the destruction of the native civilization.

Some historians may argue that this destruction was unfortunate but not necessary but I feel that this is a perfect example of survival of the fittest which is the strongest law of the wild. The settlers and natives could have never lived in peace for long and destruction of one civilization was eminent. Africa was in a state of barbarism at this time but nevertheless Europeans had already made trade contact and this is what the settlers tried to achieve as well. The settlers were not initially influenced by African contact but it was when African slaves were brought into the colonies that African influence started making its way into the younger generation who was looked after by African nannies.

The colonies were influenced by all three of their early contacts which included Europe, African and the natives. Nevertheless American colonies were accustomed to sparse contacts with their home land and found British rule increasingly unbearable as transatlantic voyages became more frequent. This eventually lead to the American war of independence and freed the colonies from British rule. Works Cited 1. Taylor, Alan; American Colonies: The Settling of North America (The Penguin History of the United States, Volume1) (History of the USA) 2001