Forces for expansion of Atlantic world and relation to North American colonial history - Essay Example

Forces for expansion of “Atlantic world” and relation to North American colonial history It is worthwhile to understand that the Americans know quite well and comprehend that their country has become bound to the rest of the world in the era of globalization (Linebaugh, Peter, and Marcus 2000 pg.29). The previous history of the Americans can only be traced in isolation. Therefore, the most modern history of America can be explained from the international platform when there was a massive settlement of the Europeans most so the citizens from the closely bordering countries. What happened to the new America can be presented by the educated scholars as “new world” and which became known as the “Atlantic world.” The concept of the “Atlantic world” can be laid emphasis on the relationships and exchanges that are found between the countries in the west of Europe, Spanish, French, British and Dutch colonies exercising their colonial powers on the North and South America. These are the major powers of Europe that launched an elaborate project to impose on the Americans what became known as the early European civilization of the Americas. The avenues created by the so launched project created the pathways for the Europeans to migrate into the Americas right from the sixteenth century, they then fought and defeated the native populations and even went to an extent to ensure they were extinct by devouring them completely. These were facilitated by the need for these populations to create and establish European agricultural and urban settlement schemes. Furthermore, the European powers were driven by the urge to impose upon the subjects’ rules and regulations on commerce and trade, land owning and the general political life (Linebaugh, Peter, and Marcus 2000 pg.43). These are the fundamental factors that lead to the transformation of the old world according to the historical fundamentals into the so called new world and hence the Atlantic world. The creation of the Atlantic world was also characterized by the creation of the empires. These were facilitated by the urge and zeal by which commerce and trade was expanding from Europe to America. Other factors being the movement of the population for religious freedom, escape from oppression, adventure with the largest majority of the Europeans moving in search of economic empowerment through the search for economic opportunities (Linebaugh, Peter, and Marcus 2000 pg.67). Therefore, the Europeans immigrants in America attained their settlements through a connection between Europe and America as a result of trade or commerce; this is evident due to the yearly growth in commerce both extensively and in a quite complex manner. These also intensified with the sharp increase in demand for labor in the new world characterized by commerce fueling expansion of trade hence increased migration from the old world to the new world. Increased commerce also became the cause of the increase in slavery in the Americas hence the growth in slave trade between the European America and Africa and these draws us to the fact that the Atlantic world was not only inclusion of the Europe and America but also Africa (Linebaugh, Peter, and Marcus 2000 pg.93). The other major factor that was binding to the Atlantic world is religion. The majority of the American settlers carried their Christian religions from Europe which they maintained. While the Catholics maintained their close ties to the Vatican in Rome where they originated, the Protestants who were the majority in North America were closely linked to their European counterparts. Religion through new ideas and movement spread across the Atlantic like bushfire resulting into the movement of the great revival of the into America, it is important to note that the ideas and movements we are talking about originated from Europe. For example, the great evangelist George Whitefield propelled the movement of the “Great Awakening” form great Britain to America in quite a large chunk. The history of the European America which culminated and resulted into the Atlantic world was bound intimately by the intellectuality that existed in Europe then (Linebaugh, Peter, and Marcus 2000 pg.129). Enlightenment, a combination of ideas which originated in Europe in both 17th and 18th centuries; supported human reasoning hence the intellectuality those are talking about. The extent to which human beings were able to reason then quickly spread to America resulting into a group which became extremely brilliant throughout the new world and specifically the British colonies in North America. For example the founding of Georgia was a basis of the British philosopher called John Locke. In addition, the North Americans shaped their political ideas and ideologies based on the English constitution and that of the idea of “rights of Englishmen.” (Linebaugh, Peter, and Marcus 2000 pg.167) It pains to think and jot down that most of the ideas that shaped America specifically the North were a product of the British and its continental philosophies which had moved across Africa resulting into the American Revolution. The movement of the Americans into independence was therefore fueled by their reiteration to the preformed ideas by among other people; Thomas Paine who later moved back to Europe to initiate the French revolution. Products of the development of Atlantic world such as technology and knowledge which branched from enlightenment moved constantly across the Atlantic and back (Linebaugh, Peter, and Marcus 2000 pg.145). This lead to Americans borrowing aspects such as technology from Europe while Europe acquiring most of its earlier knowledge on electricity from the research and experiments which were conducted in America. While enlightenment was just an aspect of continued connections within the Atlantic world, others included the spread of connections on artistic experiences, scholarly work and political ideas through the lands that border the Atlantic ocean. The concept of Atlantic world is therefore and organized explanation of the study historically about the Indian Ocean that commences from the age of exploration to the modern era, these study goes round the Atlantic Revolutions of the late 18th century to early 19th century. The Atlantic world encompasses all the five continents bordering the Atlantic Ocean. The idea of the Atlantic world encourages the thought of the early America as a wide pattern exchanges and interactions through trade, migration, religious and intellectual exchanges, apart from simply making us think of the early history of what became the modern America (Linebaugh, Peter, and Marcus 2000 pg.13). Works Cited Linebaugh, Peter, and Marcus Rediker. The many-headed hydra: sailors, slaves, commoners, and the hidden history of the revolutionary Atlantic. Boston: Beacon Press, 2000. Print. Read More