The Creation of Virginia and the Massachusetts Bay Colonies - Assignment Example

COLONIAL PERIOD (1492-1764) Introduction America has a great history way before the commencement of its colonization. Today, America is made of people from different social backgrounds, and they trace their roots during the process of colonization. Many people did not know the existence of America until the 15th century when early European explorers discovered the place. The discovery of America occurred because the early explorers from Europe got lost on their way to China making them know America. Similarly, many things made them colonize America, and some of them include increased power in Europe, prestige, opportunities for trade, spreading Christianity. Others include wealth such as gold, silver, and raw materials for their home industries. Because of colonization, the Europeans had to divide the land into different colonies to make administrative duties easier. Hence, the colony was divided into smaller parts leading to the division of the natives. Besides, the natives had to change their past way of life and adopt the lifestyle that the European exposed to them. This led to the genesis of the natives or indigenous people’s problem. The Europeans also assigned the natives different roles to perform to aid their colonization making women play a special role in helping the European colonies. The rest of the paper will discuss the American colonization and the effects it had on the natives. Compare and contrast the creation of the Virginia and the Massachusetts Bay colonies The occupation and colonization of North America began in the year 1607 when a group of Europeans boarding Susan Constant landed in Jamestown, Virginia. They became the first Englishmen to settle in the New World. Similarly, another group of European came to the New World thirteen year later and settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts.1 They collaborated through activities to influence the local population. One of the most difference between the two colonies is the reason for their creation. For instance, Virginia was created because of the economic reason that the colonizers had concerning the region. Virginia Company of London sponsored the colonialists who settled in this place in the year 1606. The parent company wanted to expand its trade and capture foreign markets as well as to sell its goods overseas. Similarly, they wanted to financial profits by investing in shares of the company stock hence North America provided a favorable environment for that mission making them settle here.2 On the other hand, Massachusetts was created because of religious purposes. Freedom from religious persecution motivated them to live here and settle their colonies. The pilgrims had to leave England and settle in Holland because of religious freedoms. However, the pilgrims stayed there and later left after realizing that their children were being corrupted by the Dutch liberal lifestyle, and they were losing their English heritage.3 The news of the English colonies in the New World motivated them to leave Holland and settle in Massachusetts. From the above description, it is evidenced that that the two colonies were different because of their formation goals. Whereas one was formed because of economic reasons, one was established as a religious colony where the European settlers had freedom of spreading Christianity to the natives. However, the two colonies share one significant similarity in that the European settlers established them. They were to serve their interests of the European colonial government because they placed their administration and influenced the local people. Moreover, the two colonies found support from the same company and they had a business interest to impose on the local people. Additionally, the two colonies practiced agriculture though in different scales in meeting their needs. Discuss the effects of English colonization on the indigenous populations The process of colonization was a disaster for the native population because it initiated suffering and other evils in the American land. America was originally inhabited by the red Indies, and they lived in traditional lifestyles where they had their social structures and administration. However, the coming of the colonizers changed things, and they had to sing their tunes. Therefore, their lives were affected by the changes brought by the colonizers. One of the effects of English colonization of the indigenous population is the loss of land.4 The colonizers came to America and started practicing agriculture. Therefore, they had to alienate the land from the natives and force them as well as push them to infertile place. The colonizers took large tracks of land, leaving the natives to be squatters on their land. This had a negative effect on the lives of the natives since it changed their lifestyle and no longer had rights to their land. One of the impacts of land alienation was the increased hunger. The indigenous populations were no longer farmers because they were resettled in infertile lands where agriculture could not bear. Secondly, the colonizers imposed western lifestyle on the American native’s hence experiencing culture shock and tension.5 For instance, the natives who comprised of red Indies had their social setups and chiefdoms destroyed. They were self-governing and maintained peace as well as social order. The imposition of Western cultural because the western colonizers took over control was a problem to them. They had to change their indigenous lifestyles and adopt western culture characterized by clothing, Christianity among others. Therefore, adapting to the new changes affected the indigenous. Thirdly, most natives died because of resistance to colonial rule and diseases introduced by the colonizers.6 The colonizers had a mission of conquering and whoever resisted their mission was killed. Because of this, the indigenous population who opposed the occupation and land were shot. Moreover, the settlers introduced diseases, which killed the natives. This was so because they wanted to finish the natives to give them space so that they can occupy the land and exploit the region. What was the Columbian Exchange and how did it affect both the Americas and Europe? The Columbian Exchange referred to the period when there was a cultural exchange between the new and the old world. There was the exchange of plants, animals, diseases, as well as the technology that transformed the life of both.7 The Columbian exchange affected the lives of Europeans as well as the Americans. For instance, peppers, maize, potatoes, beans were imported from America to Europe making it their staple food. This made the Europeans rely on the Irish potatoes leading failures to cause famine. Similarly, the Europeans brought millet, oats, and wheat among other in America. The wheat and rye brought by Europeans are used in manufacturing bread, which are used to date. Moreover, the European imported horse to America, which the Native Americans adapted and resulted in Great Plains cultures.8 There were also minerals from America such as gold and silver, which were transported to Europe. This impacted the Europeans by making their economies base on the money. The result was that there was improved trade that grown the economy. Despite the positive results of Columbian exchange, the negative effects is that the Europeans introduced diseases in America. The diseases include tuberculosis, measles, cholera, smallpox among others. Hence, it had the most impact on the Americans. Moreover, the increased technology and economic growth led to clearing of land and farming, making Native Americans to work on the farms as slaves.9 What were the dominant roles of women in the colonies? Women played different roles during the American colonization. For instance, women were categorized into three groups, namely, African women, Indian women and European women. They performed different roles in the colony depending on their regions. First, European women in the 16th century had a particular duty to perform in the colony. They were performing traditional roles such as preparing and serving food, raising children and weaving. When the settlers came, they acted as supervisors of native women as they did the manual labor.10 African women were brought to America as servants. This is because they had been trained and the Europeans saw them as people who could help them make work easier. However, as the mining profits reduced, indentured servants became less of demand and women started to work on the tobacco farms.11 European nations had not been practicing slavery, and it began in America with the growing demand for labor in the tobacco farms. European women were forced to return to their traditional role of housekeeping as the former went to provide labor on the farms. Similarly, the Indian women took part in housekeeping and other assigned duties within the house. In some occasions, their male masters sexually exploited them. They did laundry and sewing for the European masters. Moreover, they were given supervisory roles over the field workers or slaves in the absence of the European masters.12 Examine the development of slavery in the colonies Slavery in America developed because of the agricultural activities taking place at the time. The Columbian exchange resulted in diffusion or transfer of farming practices that made it possible for many regions to diversify their activities. Similarly, the need to expand into ventures that are more profitable led to the introduction of more promising sources of income. For instance, the Virginia Company entered America and began mining. However, it changed with time and ventured into other activities such as farming. The company started farming tobacco in large plantation since it was profitable compared with others.13 As the Virginia Company and other colonial masters grew tobacco, there was a need to have labor and minimize the cost. The few men who worked in the plantation were not slaves by then. They became slaves when the production increased and the sector became promising. England had not authorized slavery and the large plantation in the American land led to its introduction. From there henceforth, Europeans started to look for slaves making them explore other regions such as Africa and Asian continents. The Europeans settlers also went ahead and captured the natives as they worked as slaves on the plantations.14 Examine the development of religion in the colonies The Puritans brought religion in America. They had a long journey before finally reaching the Promised Land, America. The second bunch of Europeans to America came to spread Christianity as the only religion of the natives. Although the natives had their gods, the presence of Europeans made it clear that they were to leave their ancestral worship and adopt the new religion. The missionaries kept a close watch at the natives as it also communicated to the mother nation, England, on the best ways of converting them. This resulted in the establishment of the Anglican Church in the southern colonies.15 The religious groups, as well as the local administration, imposed local tax used to pay the salary of the church minister. The natives were forced to accept the Christian religion and in some instances, it was the precursor to being employed in the European companies. Moreover, the missionaries conducted charity activities as well as mission, which attracted the natives to Christianity. With time, the missionaries built more churches and employed more ministers as they also translated the Bible into local languages. However, the much established religion system was disestablished during the American Revolution as people questioned the authority of the church. During the colonial era, was liberty most associated with political, religious, or economic freedom? During the colonial period, only the Europeans had all the liberties and freedoms. They were allowed to do all they could as long as they remained happy in the foreign land. This was witnessed when they alienated land from the natives and used them for self-gain and enrichments. The settlers also introduced diseases, which claimed the lives of many natives. They also did all manner of evils to the natives such as shooting and killing those who resisted domination, as well as land. The colonizers did all these atrocities without considering the effect because they wanted to accomplish their mission. Contrarily, the Americans were not associated with any form of liberty. They lacked economic, religious, and political freedom. Although they had their ways of worshiping, the introduction of Christianity ensured that all the natives converted to Christianity. Because of this fact, the natives did not have religious liberty. One was not allowed to worship according to his or her wish hence denying them the rights and freedoms. On the political liberty, the natives were not viable to contest any elective position. They were not allowed to participate in any election through voting or any means. They were rendered powerless and voiceless. Their duties were to acknowledge and adhere to the policies set by the colonial power. Moreover, the natives lacked economic liberty because they owned no means of production such as land.16 They had nothing to contribute to the economy rather than being exploited and used as slaves. They were oppressed through working for longer hours with no or little pay. The European settlers also lacked other means of income other than working on the large plantations. Therefore, they lacked economic liberty. Conclusion America has a long history from its inhabitation by the natives and colonization to date. The process of its colonization changed the lifestyles of the natives, and they were affected by the new practices imposed by the European colonizers. Today, the natives are marginalized and have no place in the modern American society. The European colonizers who make the majority of the population took their position. Bibliography Berkin et al. Making America: a history of the United States, volume 2: from 1865. Boston, MA: Cengage, 2014. Clinton, Catherine. The plantation mistress. London: Knopf Doubleday, 2010. Faust, Drew. Mothers of invention: women of the Slaveholding South in the American Civil War. North Carolina: The University of North Carolina Press, 1996. White, Deborah. Arntl l a woman?: Female slaves in the plantation south. New York: Norton, 1999. Read More