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What Role Did Scalping Play In Shaping British American Culture

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A question that has been bounced around and debated for centuries by historians was whether the British American colonies were shaped more by the environment of North America or by the sorts of people who migrated there. An essential feature I will discuss and conclude on is the belief held by historian James Axtell. He believed that scalping played a significant role in the shaping of the colonies, due to the use of it by British colonists. He also discussed the influences on scalping and which side was the inventor of the technique, that being the Natives or the Europeans. An essential factor for the shaping of colonies down to the people that migrated there was that of disease. This factor is thought to shape colonies because of the impacts …show more content…

The belief is that it had effects on the natives way of life which of course they would not be thrilled about it. A widely acknowledged the idea is that of trade played a significant role in the shaping of colonies due to how it affected migrants and the way how it changed Britain forever. Overall, I will look to discuss these points in detail and give a conclusion on how and why these points are so important to the shaping of British American colonies. I will also discuss whether they were due to the North American environment or by the people who migrated there. James Axtell, well-known, supported and respected historian wrote about the argument on whether the technique of scalping was first discovered and used by the Native American’s or by the Europeans that migrated over. His piece was called “The Unkindest Cut, or Who Invented Scalping?”. In this writing, he discussed uses of scalping and theories of origination where he gave balanced points from both sides and arguments that were raised. He discusses how it was either the ‘savage Indians’ or innocent Europeans. He gave the argument of Cornplanter who raised the attention that it was the Europeans that invented scalping. Cornplanter said previously Indians "lived in …show more content…

This is down to the influence trade had on Britain at this time. Before trade, Britain was no where near as important, wealthy or powerful as it was until trade came about. Trade meant that Britain could ship goods all over the world to different countries thus increasing Britians profits and also ties with countries. Britain started trading with America after they received independence thus Britains empire began to grow. It was booming, Britain was making vasts amount more money than she ever thought was possible. As the trades and realtionships were growing stronger with America as was the desired goods. America wanted goods from Britain and in exchange Britain received suggar, tobbaco and alcohol, all big businesses at the time. Eventually America wanted to expand and wanted to enlarge their own businesses and land. They came to the conclusion that the way to do this was to get more workers on working plantation, but then thought of the money it would cost for all those workers. So they turned to their closest tie in Britain and asked if they would send people over. Britain at first sent prisioners over, but these people could not handle the heat or working conditions that America desired and thus they needed more. They then agreed on African slaves, Britain would embark on the transatlantic slave trade, this was where Britain would trade cheap goods and materials also weapos with African

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