Contributions to America Essay

The Spanish, British, and Americans, all created large settlements in North America during the 16th and 17th centuries. Both settlement had different goals, the Spanish wanted glory, gold and the spread of Christianity. Next, after the settlers gained independence from Britain, the American wanted to colonize the rest of their “new country”. Each one of the settlements negatively affected the Native Americans; however some were worse than others.

The introduction of the spanish discoverers revealed how the native americans’ lives would be changed due to enslavement, forced religion, and the destruction of their homes. If it wasn’t for the story of Marco Polo “visiting” the Indies describing the place as a heaven on earth, the place were incredible riches are stored, where there are villages of gold, then there would never have been an interest in finding a new trade route. Which never would have brought about the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus, it also would have never brought the hardships, tragedy, and utter genocide of the native americans.

The relationship between the English and the Native Americans in 1600 to 1700 is one of the most fluctuating and the most profound relationships in American history. On the one side of the picture, the harmony between Wampanoag and Puritans even inspires them to celebrate “first Thanksgiving”; while, by contrast, the conflicts between the Pequots and the English urge them to antagonize each other, and even wage a war. In addition, the mystery of why the European settlers, including English, become the dominant power in American world, instead of the indigenous people, or Indians, can be solved from the examination of the relationship. In a variety of ways, the relationship drastically alters how people think about and relate to the aborigines. Politically, the relationship changes to establish the supremacy of the English; the English intends to obtain the land and rules over it. Socially, the relationship changes to present the majority of the English settlers; the dominating population is mostly the English settlers. Economically, the relationship changes to obtain the benefit of the English settlers; they gain profit from the massive resource in America. Therefore, the relationship does, in fact, change to foreshadow the discordance of the two groups of people.

“The Indian presence precipitated the formation of an American identity” (Axtell 992). Ostracized by numerous citizens of the United States today, this quote epitomizes Axtell’s beliefs of the Indians contributing to our society. Unfortunately, Native Americans’ roles in history are often categorized as insignificant or trivial, when in actuality the Indians contributed greatly to Colonial America, in ways the ordinary person would have never deliberated. James Axtell discusses these ways, as well as what Colonial America may have looked like without the Indians’ presence. Throughout his article, his thesis stands clear by his persistence of alteration the Native Americans had on our nation. James Axtell’s bias delightfully enhances his thesis, he provides a copious amount of evidence establishing how Native Americans contributed critically to the Colonial culture, and he considers America as exceptional – largely due to the Native Americans.

Although the natives might have never made it to modern day like customs, the impact of the European exploration and colonization on the native people was through the conversion to Christianity; death/diseases; and the exchanges and teachings towards Natives. Without all the modifications the Europeans made on the Natives, and also colonizing in the Americas we wouldn’t have mixed race population or event the today’s united states. If the European explorers never came over to the US, some generations of family in today’s time probably would have never existed. The pain, sweat, blood, and tears that led into creating the nation, we have now been crucial during those times. It was unjust and unethical for the Europeans to treat the Natives as

The early Native American tribes had a huge influence on the United States of America. They saved the early European settlers from death and starvation by teaching them their knowledge of the New World. One of these influential tribes were the Cherokee Indians. The Cherokee Indians had a fascinating culture and language that formed an important part of American history.

The colonial times are very important times in America because they changed the existing order that has been in place for thousands of years. Native Americans lived peacefully for thousands of years until European explorers found out about the new continent. The Norse colonization of North America began in the tenth century when Norsemen explored and settled in the North Atlantic. Four centuries later, Columbus arrived at the new continent and brought the Europeans to the Americas. The local tribes (native Americans) were easily told to follow directions and did it willingly. “They are the best people in the world is above all the gentlest.”-Columbus said. The population of native Americans during that time (the year of 1492)

The interactions of the English settlers and Indians affected both parties through war and trade. Although the Native Americans benefited from access the new technology and trade the long-term effects of disease, increased tensions with settlers, and loss of culture outweighed them.

5. Unlike the Spanish and the French, English settlers saw Indians as an enemy. The English saw the new world as a way to grow their world power and anyone who stood in the way was seen as an enemy. They initially thought they could enslave the Indians, however, when that failed to work the English wanted to force them to do their work. This idea prevailed throughout European Colonization. Europeans wanted so badly to colonize that they were willing to do anything to make that happen.

The first book Morgan talks about the relationship between the English colonists and the American Indians who inhabited the land previously. The issues between the two groups started when The Virginia Company refused to rely on the Indians for any help living on this new land and when the king gave all of the “power” to The Virginia Company, they still fought on having the Indians

James Axtell wrote the article entitled, “Colonial America Without the Indians” and it goes into extreme detail to pinpoint the impact that the Indians had on American history. Axtell picks out important events that irrefutably made the U.S. the country it is today and shows what may have happened had the Indians not been in existence. For example, America may not have been settled as quickly if not for the Indians because explorers wouldn’t have known of the hidden gold and silver deposits, many early settlements would likely have failed without knowledge and support from the Indians, and guerilla warfare was practically taught to the Americans by the Indians and became a central piece in the winning of the American Revolution. Most importantly, however, contact with the Indians helped “Americanize” the settlers. It was the changes in the European culture brought on by the Indians

In Of Plymouth Plantation, William Bradford says “when they a shore they would use their own Liberty, for none had power to command them. The immigrants had to go through a lot based on the story of William Bradford. There were many storms along with other battles they faced. One good thing is if it weren't for immigrants we'd never have Indian relations. Quoting him “after friendly entertainment and some gifts given to him they made a peace with him (which have now continued this twenty four years).” Immigrants made the first thanksgiving happen something we wouldn't have

Prior to European colonization, warfare was common amongst farming communities as a method to gain additional __________.

The story of America and its culture begins in 1492, with its discovery by an Italian explorer named Christopher Columbus, which is what we think, but in reality America was inhabited by Native Americans for hundreds, even thousands of years, before its discovery. The European who landed in the “New World” faced many adversities whom the Native Americans assisted. Although the Native Americans accepted and assisted the European settlers they had a relationship of conflict and tensions due to the diversity of their religious attitudes, lifestyles, and moral characters.

During this era, the Native Americans were known to be the first actual settlers in America. They grew crops and had a lifestyle different from the Europeans and the English. The Natives were passionate about the natural world, they incorporated it into their everyday lives. When the English and European settlers came over they believed that the Natives were “savages” and the English tried to cause them harm. The Natives had many useful things they could teach the new settlers. The English and European needed support from the Natives even though they did not want to admit it. Many colonies in the new world failed, until, Jamestown. Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement, in what is now known