The Colonizers of the Americas on Carribeans - Essay Example

Discussion Board The Tainos were a group of people who lived in Caribbean Islands. They lived in villages governed by chieftains with rank distinctions. The chieftains of the Tainos also received tribute only when there is crisis. The Tanos lived in large houses made of thatch, mats and poles. Related families lived together in each large house. The Colonizers of the Americas led by Christopher Columbus brought smallpox from Europe. Smallpox killed millions of people during the European Conquest of the Americas. It reduced the population of the Americas drastically. This changed the conquest story because the reduction in population caused a decrease in the benefits of the Columbian exchange. Apart from the Smallpox, there were other items involved in the Columbian exchange. The items included livestock and crops. The natives provided potatoes, sweet potatoes and maize. The Europeans brought to America crops such as Oranges, tomatoes and bananas. Horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, mules, dogs, cats, and pigs were brought from Europe to the New World. Other diseases included in the exchange were: measles, yellow fever and Syphilis. The natives gave the settlers syphilis in return. The Columbian Exchange was not a Pandora’s Box. The diseases and other items exchanged were just brought in or taken out by the settlers. The problems were caused by settlers. Even if the settlers had left, the continent was permanently changed by the settlers due to the introduction of the diseases and other exchange materials. Discussion Board 2 In Bacon’s rebellion, Bacon led fight against Native Americans in order to defend the rights of the Englishmen. Bekerly, who was a governor, defended the Indians instead of colonists because the Indians were friendly to them, so they would act as buffers against hostile tribes. Edmund Morgan links the rebellion to American Freedom by using the role of slavery in American history. He argued that growing masses of alien slaves and freedom acted together as a way of bringing white settlers together and reducing racial differences. Slavery was seen as a key to the freedom because slaves tended to draw white settlers together and reduced the importance of class differences between native farmers and settlers. Indentured servants fitted into this picture by collaborating with freemen and small farmers in the Bacon rebellion to fight for freedom from the settlers. These immigrants served the settlers (planters) but they became freer each year. Discussion 3 African Slave Trade became popular in the 17th century in United States. The slaves were taken to sugar colonies in the Caribbean and to Brazil. African slaves were taken to the colonies between 1519 and 1867. The middle passage was a stage in the triangular trade. Millions of Africans were transported to the New World as part of the Atlantic slave trade. The Middle Passage was a period of being in between for those slaves who were traded from Africa to America. The free social groups in the New World were the Colonies and the colonists. The Founding fathers agreed to this established social system because they all worked together to use slaves and create exchange between each other. Discussion 4 The French and Indian War was between the colonies of British America and New France supported by military units of their parent countries. Quebec Act was an act of the parliament of Great Britain which set procedures for the governance in Quebec Province. It legalized catholic religion in Quebec and made Quebec independent. Colonists had some problems with the Act: they feared that the Act would be a threat to American colonies and that their authorities and power to govern themselves were undermined. They also feared that Quebec would be set as a British military base. Quebec Act contributed to American Revolution by angering the American colonies and sparking the confrontations that gave birth to American Revolution. Discussion Board 5 The Intolerable Acts included: The Boston Act – March 31, 1774 Administration of Justice Act – May 20, 1774 Massachusetts Government Act – May 20, 1774 Quartering Act – June 2, 1774 Quebec Act – June 22, 1774 These Acts were passed by the British Government to increase Tax Revenues in order to pay off its increasing debts. Therefore, the British citizens in England were paying debts through taxes in order pay off the Indian and French War debts while the colonists did not agree to pay the taxes. The reaction to taxation was rational because it was a way of having colonies to pay for the fair share of costs of running the colonies by the British Empire. The American Revolution war was supported by thirteen colonies. These people were American patriots or revolunaries. There were 40% of the colonists who were patriots. Stereotypes on American History are highlighted in the video – “Too late to apologize: A Declaration.” The satirical video shows images of politicians discussing about policies while the patriots are fighting for liberty and happiness. The British are portrayed as oppressors who sit and set bad policies for the people. Discussion board 6 Federalists were the supporters of the constitution that supported the formation of a loose decentralized government system in USA. This basically represented a strong centralized government. The leading federalists were: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. Their vision was to safeguard the social gains brought about by the American Revolution, e.g. liberty and independence. The federalists argued that the constitution would give the government power that would be split into branches that would in result protect the rights of the people. The Anti-federalists were those who opposed the formation of a loose decentralized system. They included: Patrick Henry, Melanchton Smith and George Mason. The anti-federalists had a vision of confederation for America, which gave them power to protect themselves from the state level. They did not want to be ruled by a stranger who would act like a king. The anti-federalists turned out to become the democrats in the current political system of the United States. The federalism party was ended through a strong political process that led to the amendment of the constitution. The participation of the anti-federalists in the political process played a crucial role in the amendments, and this led to the victory-in-defeat of the anti-federalists and the modern American Nation was born. Discussion Board 7 Slavery in the 18th century was more rampant than the 19th century slave trade. The 18th century slave trade made up of Native Americans involved less freedom for the slaves. The 19th century slave trade involved a reduction in slaves but most African slaves replaced Native American slaves. Conditions in the slave trade in 18th century were worse than the conditions in 19th century because slaves started to join rebellion groups and fights for freedom towards the Abolitionist Movement. Most people of the North viewed abolitionists in the 19th century as a good way of achieving emancipation of all slaves and bringing an end to the racial segregation and discrimination in US. Mexican American War contributed to the civil war through the treaties signed to end the wars. The Compromise treaty of 1850 to end the confrontation between the slave states of Mexico South and the Free States of the North. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed to bring peace and friendship between USA and Mexican Republic to end the Mexican-American War. As a result of the treaties, conflicts arose on whether to make the new territory to become Free states or slave-holding states. The conflict led to the civil war. The war was about both economic concerns and moral concerns. This is because the North held moral concerns over slavery while the south wanted to gain economic benefits from holding slaves. Works cited Kellogg, William O. American History: The Easy Way. Hauppauge, NY: Barrons, 2003. Print. Read More