US History in the 15th-18th Centuries - Essay Example

U.S History The paper answers five questions related to US history during the 15th to 18th centuries When there are big changes in the political system or technology, there are possibilities of new and innovative ways of travelling, which would pave the way for grand exploration. The big political changes in the 15th and 16th centuries always inspired the European voyages. At that time, the powerful Christians expelled the Muslims from their lands and formed a new merchant class that competed from the beneficial international markets for trade. These voyages were made on a grand scale in order to search for new trade routes. Today we all remember the explorers who traveled the oceans to search new lands, especially Christopher Columbus. After Columbus’ discovery of the New World, the entry of the wide variety of globally acclaimed luxury commodities in the European markets through the sea route stopped the earlier market of the luxury goods that was prevailing. The pre-existing German and Italian trading powers were ousted by the Atlantic trade. There had been social changes in the European luxury markets as the new luxury items like chinaware, silk, spices and sugar made their entry. During the Age of Discovery, Western Europe has been had become the Economic Center for the European Union shifting from the Mediterranean. At that time the city of Antwerp, which was a part of Duchy of Barabant, was considered to be Europe’s richest city and also center of the international economy. During the Age of Discovery, the religious sentiments, gave rise to the discoveries at this age. It was seen that while the Islamic community was expanding its horizon, the Western Christendom was getting destroyed. European Union became vulnerable and they feared to be attacked by infidel East. It was also agreed and known by the Europeans that the Far East was highly rich and luxurious. If we take a deeper look into these discoveries, we find the similarities with the Crusaders prevailed during the 12th and 13th centuries. The main effort in spreading the belief of Christianity among the New World residents was mainly started by the Catholic Church during the Age of Discovery. The Catholic Church also took the initiative of converting the indigenous people as well as the Native Americans. Portugal, France and Spain were the three countries that put the colonial efforts in forming the European powers, majority of which was the missionary effort and gave a partial justification for the same. Catholic nations’ colonial efforts and indigenous people’s Christian Mission ran in parallel. Moreover, Dominicans, Jesuits, Franciscans and Augustinians gave religious orders to run most of the missions in the colonies of the Americas. Additionally, it was the political motive that came into picture. The considerable large political units were formed by the gun powered empires. The formation and maintenance of these new political parties needed large amount of effort and money. A clear contrast was visible in the formation of the political systems in two different scenarios. The Netherlands, England, France, Portugal and Spain employed pressure on the new holdings that were overseas. Whereas Russia, south-eastern Europe, the Middle East and India had the new land base and they challenged the traditional political systems in their territories. The system also witnessed the formation of new empires, which would be termed as “multinational” units at the later stages. These multinational units embraced different ethnic and cultural groups. The firmness of the multinational approach was an important futuristic issue for the world history during the Age of Discovery. The growing ideas of the Renaissance period were the base for the growth of modern technology. Europe had increased its power through two ways – one was exploring new trade along with new lands and the second was by the new technologies like shipbuilding, map making and weaponry – muskets and cannons in particular. There had been new designs in the shipbuilding technology in which carrack is one among them. These carracks had the capacity to travel through the calm water of the Mediterranean Sea and also to withstand the thrashing of the powerful waters of the Atlantic Ocean. There were several other innovations like magnetic compass, Astrolabe and caravel. Apart from these there was another innovation called Quadrant, which was a tool, used for measuring the height of Polaris, the pole star. All these technological advances helped navigators immensely in exploring new worlds. 2. During the Age of Discovery of 15th and 16th centuries, it was Spain and Portugal that started the exploring activities in the globe for the European countries and as a result it created big empires in the overseas lands. The wealth of these two empires were so huge that countries like the Netherlands, France and England got envious with the success and ultimately established trade networks and colonies of their own in Asia and the Americas. A series of wars occurred against France and the Netherlands in 17th and 18th centuries made England dominant, which also allowed England to form Great Britain in 1707 and make them the governing colonial powers in India and North America. The English maritime were stuck only with the operations like plundering, smuggling, fishing and exploring in the 16th century. Two voyages of John Cabot during the year 1497 to 1498 first registered the claims of the British in North America. He explored the North American coast and sailed to Virginia from Newfoundland but could find the way to reach Asia. However, the Hudson Bay Explorations had created a northern route through which trade could happen with Russia. Though there were restrictions from Spain, John Hawkins and many other English captains were involved in periodic trading of slaves from the West Indies and Africa in the 1540’s. The Spanish encounters gave rise to the exploitation of the “sea dogs” of the English. One of them was Sir Francis Drake who raided the Spanish shipping yards and helped in defeating the Armada. After defeating the Napoleonic France in the year 1815, the British enjoyed unchallenged dominance for almost a century and also extended their extensive holdings all over the world. The degree of increase in their autonomy granted them access to the colonies of the White settlers, many of which given the name as dominos. The Catholic Spain and England had made their enemies through the Protestant Reformation movement. In the year 1562 Francis Drake and John Hawkins were attacked in order to barge into the slave trading practice in the Portuguese and Spanish ships of the West African coast and make way for the Atlantic trade system. This effort was spurned and few days later the Anglo-Spanish was get intensified. In the year 1603 James VI took over the English throne and renegotiated the Treaty of London in 1604, which ended the conflicts with Spain. After this treaty the British started to focus on creating business and colonial formation in other countries rather than getting into a brawl with them. It was during the early years of the 17th century when the British Empire started to take shape with the smaller English settlements in the islands of the Caribbean and North America. There were settlements of private companies named as the English East India Company that used to take care of the formation of colonies and overseas trade. England had established its first permanent settlement in the Americas in Jamestown in the year 1607. This effort was led by Captain John Smith and managed by Virginia Company. At that time the American colonies were less successful in the financial aspects compared to that of the Caribbean islands. However, the American colonies had huge agricultural lands, which attracted a big number of emigrants from England who preferred the temperate climate of the American colonies. In the year 1670, the royal charter Hudson’s Bay Corporation (HBC) incorporated Charles II. This incorporation granted them the monopoly of fur trade in the Rupert’s Land area. This area later had been transformed in to the large colonies called the Dominion of Canada. 3. All the thirteen colonies had their own self-government system. This self-governing system was largely based upon the farmers who were independent and owning a piece of own land and have the rights to vote for their local and provincial government and they had the rights to serve on their local juries. The presence of the African slaves was evident in Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia along with other colonies. During the 11760’s and 1770’s these colonies got politically united along with their military power against the British government to protest over the various taxes imposed. This revolution led to the American Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1783. In the year 1776 their independence was declared and it was achieved by signing the Treaty of Paris. Pennsylvania is the only state that grew rapidly with the smooth functionality. The population of the state reached about 9000 by 1685. Philadelphia was regarded as the heart of the colony because of its picturesque appearance broad tree-shaded road, substantial stone and brick houses and the busy docks. When it was about to the end of the colonial period about a century later, there were about 30000 people living there who were representing various trades, creeds and speaking various languages. The people had the talent of establishing successful business enterprises and that made the city the most sought center for the colonial America. The mixed nature of the people from Pennsylvania and New York showed the polyglot nature of the American people. By the year 1646 the population lived along the Hudson River was comprised of Italians, Portuguese, Bohemians, Poles, Germans, Irish, Scots, English, Swedes, Norwegians, Danes, French and Dutch. All these varied populations were the forerunners of the millions to come. By the late years of the 17th century the social and economic structure of Virginia was largely dependent upon the yeoman farmers and the planters. Most of the best lands and political power was captured by the tidewater region planters who were supported by the slave labor. Their lifestyle was aristocratic and they built luxurious houses to live and kept themselves in touch of various possible overseas culture. Because of the high usage of tobacco by the British people it had become a great economic driver in the American colonies especially in the Chesapeake Bay’s tidewater region. A big plantation of tobacco was grown along the rivers of Virginia and it was made sure that the economic and social systems were grown enough to distribute the cash crop. The colonial settlements along the Bay of Massachusetts River started in 1620 initiated by the finding of Plymouth Colony. Throughout the years of 1620’s the process of colonization took place. However, the expansion of various English settlements started in 1628 with the establishment of Massachusetts Bay Colony along with the arrival of a large group of Puritan settlers who arrived first in 1630. The area saw a major migration of the Puritan settlers in those areas over the next 10 years. This migration led to the formation of a large number of colonies in New England. The number of colonies was settled at five by 1680’s, which included New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay bordering the area. Among all of these Massachusetts Bay was the most advanced in terms of both population and economy as it was the house of a formidable number of merchant fleet. In all the phases of the colonial development we could see that there was very less interference of the English government. All the colonies apart from Georgia either grew as feudal proprietorships, which intensified its roots by the charters granted by the Crown, or as the companies of various shareholders. The king had transferred al his powers to the New World, which showed that the colonies formed in the Americas were free from all the outside powers to rein over them. For example, the full authority of all governmental aspects was controlled by the Virginia Company under the charter of the company itself. 4. The three main colonies: New England, Middle Colonies and Southern Colonies developed in a different manner. If we consider each colony at a time, the reason for the differences is as follows: New England: Politics: In the 17th century the Puritans governed New England for Puritanism religion. The charter had empowered the stockholders of the Massachusetts Bay Company to meet as a body, which was called as the General Court. It was the General Court that made laws and administered the company. The colonists staying in New England adopted the concept of the General Court and ruled their respective colonies. It was ruled by the General Court that the male church members could be the freemen and they are the ones who can make sure that the godly men had the rights to decide upon the government issues. As the time progressed, the number of freemen increased to such a large number that they had to agree to send two deputies to the General Court from each colony who would act as the representative of the colony. Economy: It was difficult to cultivate because of the rough cold climate during winter and the rocky soil. The farmers were not able to feed their families properly. There were alternative trading options like shipbuilding, logging or trapping for fur, rum, timber and fishing but these were the options open only to the wealthy merchant classes. The major port of New England was Boston. Social: The Northern colonial society paved its stepping stone based upon the Puritan religion. For any northern colonial village the meetinghouse was the central feature. The interesting part is both religious and government observances used to happen in these meetinghouses. Middle Colonies: Politics: Because of the physical and mental state of William Penn he was given the liberty to rule his colony and he only needs to answer the King. He also had the liberty to make laws and administer the government because he has formulized tax-paying community of landowners. A governor was appointed by him who would foresee all these activities. Economy: Both industrialization and agriculture were parts of Middle Colony civilization. The farms of New York and Pennsylvania grew wheat and other crops, which were turned into flour by the mills and were exported to various places. This export trading of flour comprised almost three quarters of all the export trading. The servants that had sold their service for more than or equal to six years used to work more than others. The colony also had family labor as one of the major workforce. Iron and different products from iron like huge blocks, ploughs, nails, kettles, tools and many others were manufactured in the factories in Maryland and got exported to Britain. The manufacturing of textiles and paper was a part of Pennsylvania factories. Social: According to the belief of the Quakers God does not discriminate between the genders and all are equal in the eyes of the Almighty. They also believed that men and women are all equal and even the women too have the right to hold leadership position in the church. Southern Colonies: Politics: It was the oldest legislative body, the House of Burgesses, ruled the southern colonies like Virginia. A royal governor was appointed by England’s king and the governor had the liberty to choose his council. Social/Economy: Agriculture is the main economy for the southern colonies. The main feature of this colony was a big acre of farmland in which there would be buildings as well that would house the owner of the land as well the workers who worked on those lands. The majority of the workforce was comprised of the African slaves that came here in 1619. The major plantations were indigo, cotton, rice, sugar and tobacco. The farmlands grew these cash crops and export them to different parts of America and also to Britain. It was a male-dominated society where the father is the head of the family and also ruled the slaves along with the extended household. 5. The North American slave-based society was originated from the West Indies. It was earlier years of the 17th century when North America started growing tobacco. That time the practice of slavery did not come in place like that of southern colonial holdings in the Caribbean of England. Seventeen islands were settled by the English between 1624 and 1641. Many of these settlements lost their existence, which gave the opportunity to other settlements like Montserrat, Nevis, Antigua, St. Kitts and Barbados to become the powerhouse of economy. The major export for these West Indian islands was sugar which they grew and export to England. Sugar production was a very tough task. Many planters relied more on the servants for this work chose to get the work done by the African slaves, which they eventually bought from the Dutch traders. The people from West Indies started to become enslaved Africans compared to the whites by 1660 and the rights of slavery got limited by several slave codes. The indentured servants were becoming more costly and less reliable workforce and thus making slavery as an attractive investment option. England saw drastic improvements in the internal markets, which resulted in creating jobs and the people who migrated out of the country for work as slaves could find work back home. The White settlers imposed the slave codes in the southern colonies like Virginia because of the increase in the number of slaves. It was the Caribbean who showed the initial model on how to create the slave codes so that everyone in under a win-win situation and rip the benefits of the code. The Native American slavery underwent a change because of the European colonists as a new demand market was created for the captives of the raids. The colonies saw shortage of workforce for decades. The southern colonies were initially created for exploiting the resources rather than using as a settlement. The Native Americans were captured or purchased by the colonists in order to make them slaves to cultivate tobacco and by the 18th century it was indigo, sugar and rice. For the benefit of the trading the Native Americans started to sell the war captives to the white people instead of integrating them in their own society. Till the late 18th century the English plantations had deployed Indian slaves along with the Africans and sometimes white indentured servants. The domestics or household works were generally got done by the women and children as servants. After the arrival of the Europeans in North America the Indian slavery nature saw a drastic change. It was seen by the Indians that the British people, mainly from the southern colonies, tend to capture the Indians and force them to be labors in cultivating indigo, rice and tobacco. The Catholic Spain and England had made their enemies through the Protestant Reformation movement. In the year 1562 Francis Drake and John Hawkins were attacked in order to barge into the slave trading practice in the Portuguese and Spanish ships of the West African coast and make way for the Atlantic trade system. This effort was spurned and few days later the Anglo-Spanish was get intensified. In the year 1603 James VI took over the English throne and renegotiated the Treaty of London in 1604, which ended the conflicts with Spain. After this treaty the British started to focus on creating business and colonial formation in other countries rather than getting into a brawl with them. It was during the early years of the 17th century when the British Empire started to take shape with the smaller English settlements in the islands of the Caribbean and North America. There were settlements of private companies named as the English East India Company that used to take care of the formation of colonies and overseas trade. England had established its first permanent settlement in the Americas in Jamestown in the year 1607. This effort was led by Captain John Smith and managed by Virginia Company. At that time the American colonies were less successful in the financial aspects compared to that of the Caribbean islands. However, the American colonies had huge agricultural lands, which attracted a big number of emigrants from England who preferred the temperate climate of the American colonies. In the year 1670, the royal charter Hudson’s Bay Corporation (HBC) incorporated Charles II. This incorporation granted them the monopoly of fur trade in the Rupert’s Land area. This area later had been transformed in to the large colonies called the Dominion of Canada. References Read More