The European Colonization Of The United States

labor. Eventually, this had lead to Spain’s failure and resulted in a time of "rapid inflation

Between 1492-1776, although many people moved to the “New World”, North America lost population due to the amount of Indians dying from war and diseases and the inability of colonists to replace them. John Murrin states, “losers far outnumbered winners” in “ a tragedy of such huge proportions that no one’s imagination can easily encompass it all.” This thought of a decreasing population broadens one’s perspective of history from that of an excluded American tale full of positivity to that of a more unbiased, all-encompassing analysis. The Indians and slaves have recently been noted as a more crucial part of history than previously accredited with.

There were initially two to ten million natives in the United States prior to European contact. Those numbers dwindled down drastically in the years that Europeans came and started colonizing. The Europeans came to explore the New World in search of land, spices, gold, God and glory. Among these colonists were the Spanish and they colonized most of the southwest of the United States. Evidence of their settlements can still be seen today in the missions scattered across the land. These missions were started with the purpose of converting the Native Americans to Christianity. Now, imagine living your entire life with a particular set of beliefs, based on your ancestors and culture, and a group of foreigners come and proclaim that your views are all wrong and that you must follow their beliefs for the salvation of your soul. This is exactly what the Spanish did to the Natives. The relationship between the two parties were strained and rife with tension due to the conversion of the natives and the constant abuse doled out by the Spanish. This subsequently led to the disintegration of native life and culture.

The time period between the 1600s and 1700s was a time of a major change in the land of the New World. The colonization of Europeans into the North America had considerable impacts on the Native American lives. European empire at the time, such as the French, England and Spanish empires, often fought against each other for power and control. After the European tried to colonized, the Native American suddenly found themselves dealing with European power politics. The arrival of Europeans into the New World meant new political relationships for both the European and the Native Americans. Each side had thing to gain and loss in this kind of relationship, especially military alliances and new trade goods. European power politics and rivalries were a major factor in the development of European and Native American relations because they created relationships of mutually beneficial relationships of trade and alliances.

As the Europeans began settling in the Americas, thus began “the exchange of plant and animal species that have ultimately been a widespread benefit to the peoples throughout the globe” (Document 3). The Europeans brought many elements of their own culture, including their native plants and animals. They then introduced these things to the natives of the Americas and also adopted the natives culture into their own. The Europeans introduced different types of skills and jobs. In turn, “the Indian natives have successfully learned all the Spanish trades” (Document 1).

European colonization of the Americas should be remembered as a tragedy for the impractical and immoral acts upon Native Americans and slave laborers. The European colonization of the Americas was a series of atrocities committed upon underdeveloped territory by settlers throughout the Americas. Many European countries took part in the advantages of the land to increase economic trade and newly found resources. However, the net result of this colonization for the indigenous who already inhabited these lands was the exploitation of Native Americans and Slaves through forced labor, Christian ideals being forced upon those certainly from different beliefs, and the general theft of land and natural resources.

The American Colonies for the past 20 years have become accustomed to living a thousand miles from their sovereign, the King of England and Parliament. This separation from “monarchial” control and power has created a tough and independent society, which although they believe themselves to be subjects of the crown, has molded an experience and lifestyle unlike any found within the “Crown’s” realm. Subsequently, these differences in lifestyles bond both Mother Country and colony on a path that veers from the typical empirical rule that has ruled the known world for the last century.

In the early years of the United States’ formation, the country had its roots in the original thirteen colonies. Through years of expansion, the United States grew into the country we know today. Without the migration movements like the pilgrims’ voyage to America, the colonization founding of the original thirteen colonies, and the westward migration in the 1800s for gold and prosperity, the country could not be the way it is today. The colonization of the 1600s and the migration in the 1800s impacted the course of American history and its development.

North America was colonized by the English, but it was not easy. Many obstacles, such as religion, economy, and political issues sometimes halted or made the colonization of North America more difficult. Over time, the obstacles started to be easier to overcome. When colonies were established, there were a few different types. Each type of colony also had their differences. There were many struggles that came along with the attempts of colonizing North America, but some of the things that happened helped shape this country into what it is today.

It all started in the 17th century, Europeans crossed the Atlantic to find the New World where they could start their new lives and spread religion along with improving their status in life. It began with Jamestown; now know as Virginia, when it became the first settlement that soon was established as the first colony. Not too far long, pilgrims traveled to the New World and discovered Plymouth in the colony of Massachusetts. As time went by, many disagreements over the boundaries of the colonies rose and The French and Indian War broke out. After the war, England took control over the colonies and was broken into 4 major regions The major regions were called New England, Middle, Chesapeake Bay, and the Southern Colonies. Despite the location and area the colonies settled, each colony had their own similarities and differences; thus, based on political, religious, self-governing, and land owning. These individual colonies declared independence from Britain and without a hesitation, they broke out and each went their ways.

As children and students we were taught that the Legendary Christopher Columbus founded America. However history has proven that this alleged discovery is far from the truth. Not only had the Spanish already settled Florida, but the Native Americans also known as Indians have already inhabited America. From this awareness of “New Found Land” English settlers intruded on Native American land and took over America under what was called manifest destiny. In the 19th century United States, Manifest Destiny was a belief that was widely believed that the true destiny of American settlers was to expand and move across the continent to spread American traditions and their institutions, along with enlightening more primitive nations, also known as the Indians. This destiny clearly was accomplished and today almost 240 years later there have been many laws and administrative law cases that has aroused from the accomplishment of Manifest Destiny in regards to Native Americans.

This chapter, “Europeans Colonize North America, 1600 – 1650,” explores the social, political and economic reasons which prompted European countries to invade and colonize North America. These European groups included the Spanish, French, Dutch and English. England however hoped to recreate and improve the society they had left behind. They all had different reasons for exploring the Americas. Nevertheless, Europeans possessed and benefitted a little until they adapted and established successful relations with Native Americans and with each other.

The founding of the New World fascinated many Europeans because of the possibilities of the economic, political, and social growth. Europeans packed their belongings and boarded the boat to new beginnings. Arriving in the Americas was not what they had expected. Already pre-occupied in the land, were the Native Americans. The Native Americans refused the Europeans colonization in the America’s, but not all colonies in the Europe just wanted to colonize with the Natives. The intentions of the Europeans colonies were all different, as the Dutch solely came for business transactions. The Dutch business transactions resulted in the change of economic, political, and social movements, changing the lives of the Native’s.

By the time Europeans arrived in the America in 1492, perhaps 54 million people inhabited the two American continents. In 1669 an official census revealed that only about 2,000 Indians remained in Virginia, perhaps 10 percent of the population the original English settlers had encountered in 1607. By 1680, there were some 7,000 African slaves in American colonies, a number that ballooned to 700,000 by 1790, according to some estimates ("U.S. Immigration Before 1965,” 2015). Throughout history, people from different places migrated to america for different reason. People migrated to america because of religious freedom, deracination, and economic opportunity.

The Monroe Doctrine is a crucial part of United States History and the protection of the country. In the 1823, the Doctrine was created to discourage Spain and other European countries from occupying remaining colonies in the Western Hemisphere. The Doctrine was developed by President James Monroe. For the citizens of the United States and the rights and interest of this country that are involved, and the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not be considered for future colonization by any European powers (Monroe 1).