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
“Despite the view of some historians that the conflict between Great Britain and its thirteen North American colonies was economic in origin, in fact the American Revolution had its roots in politics and other areas of American life.” Great Britain and the American colonies had a relationship impacted with many hardships. I believe that there was a political struggle between the two groups, but that Great Britain and the American colonies used economics as a chance to show how much control they had. Multiple Acts written by Parliament, the colonies' Committees of Correspondence and Continental Congress created political friction between Great Britain and the American colonies.
For years Britain’s economy reaped the rewards of financial gain through the laws of the Navigation Acts which forced the use of only British vessels for trade between the Britain and its colonies and the Triangle Trade which Britain and its colonies and Africa traded between themselves for slaves, raw goods and manufactured products. During this time Britain’s concern for a relationship with its colonies diminished and as time passed so did the colonists sense of being British. As more immigrants from other nations settled in the colonies and children born in this new land became adults, being British lessened.
Over the previous 150 years the colonies had attracted an ever-increasing number of immigrants and grown steadily in themselves so that they now contained significant urban centers such as Philadelphia and Boston, a large population free and slave of 1,593,625 in 1770, an abundance of land with the prospect of more to the west -now free bar the Indians rapidly being more fully used by the growing population it attracted, and a growing number of manufacturing industries. These were significant because the traditional model of colonies had been to serve as exporters of raw materials and staple goods to Britain and purchasers of manufactured goods, all along the protected trading lines of the Navigation Act. But the mainland American colonies
Great Britain at this time had many issues with funding themselves after exhausting resources and political power, after the French and Indian War. Britain was slowly losing power trying to keep the inhabitants of the American colonies at the bay. With a victory in the hand of Britain and one of the bloodiest wars staining the hearts of the people of America in the other, Britain had to keep itself strong, so the idea of taking their colonies quickly came to mind and keeping foreign colonies in check was their first priority. There were many issues going on in the British colonies. One of many issues that happened is salutary neglect, which led to the colonies to be mad with the British Government.
(Make intro stronger) Before 1760 England and Americas’ relationship was on good terms. The imperial system provided the America’s with many benefits such as political stability, opportunities for trade and commerce, and also military protection. During this time Great Britain was known as a world power and desired to remain that way. In response to wanting to remain a world power, Britain, during 1763- 1775 passed a series of laws that would allow them to gain more control over the colonies which would ultimately increase colonial taxes, control trade in the colonies and pass strict laws. These regulations caused the Colonies and Britain to have a tumultuous relationship, and the colonies warnings that these regulations were strenuous were
Trade during colonial America was done between Europe, Africa, and the New World. They traded food, natural resources, animals, and slaves. History proves to show that trade highly increases economies and through the Triangular Trade route the economy of the colonies shot up. It was really easy for colonists to buy slaves from Africa and have them shipped across the Middle Passage just as easy as it was to be over an indentured servant. As stated above, colonists preferred slaves over indentured servants, so they chose African slaves. This allowed for a rapid growth in the number of slaves within the British North American colonies that increased trade and economic power for the colonies.
Colonists took benefits from the mercantile system, large sums for ship builders, colonial protection by British army
Between the years of 1607and 1763, the British North American colonies developed experience and the expectation of self government in the political such as the Mayflower Compact, religious dealing with the Puritans, economic with the establishment of tobacco, and social such as Indians, aspects of life.
Geography had a high impact on the development British North America colonies because it affected what economic activities each region would be successful in performing. The Southern colonies had flat land, long growing seasons, wider rivers and coastline which made it the perfect region for plantation farming, specifically rice, tobacco, and indigo which they were then able to transport to other areas in the colonies and England due to the rivers and coastlines that provided much faster and cheaper transportation. The Middle colonies had four equal seasons which allowed enough time for grains to grow hence the name the “breadbasket” colonies. The New England colonies had natural and deep harbors, forests, hills, and cold, short growing
Africans first arrived in the area that later became the United States of America in around 1619 in the Chesapeake area. The large amount of fertile land in the area gave the settlers their biggest cash crop, which was tobacco. As time went by, more and more tobacco was being exported to England. Because of this, more labor was needed. This need for more labor was not only in the north, but in the south as well due to their mass production of cotton. This movement started the institution of slavery in America. Then, the colonies and other countries started to trade slaves and it became a business. The Royal African Company was the first slave trading company, which was started in 1672. The slaves were transported by the Middle
Due to the growing economic activity in the colonies both locally and amongst each other as well as all of the external trade, the local and colonial
Many historians believe that the biggest factor in the development of the British colonies in North America was geography. This statement is very valid because each region of America had its own special characteristics and natural resources that helped them thrive at different things like fishing, trading, and farming. For example the New England colonies had many mountains, forests, and rivers which gave them an abundant amount of wood and fish. The Middle colonies had a lot of farm land and were surrounded by oceans making it a center of trade. The Southern colonies were made up of flat land and fertile soil which was ideal for growing crops. The geography did not only affect the colonies economically, but it also affected them socially
Freedom is what defines an individual, it bestows upon someone the power to act, speak, or think without externally imposed restraints. Therefore, enslavement may be defined as anything that impedes one’s ability to express their freedoms. However, complete uncompromised freedom is virtually impossible to achieve within a society due to the contrasting views of people. Within Mark Twain’s 1885 novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, numerous controversies are prevalent throughout the novel, primarily over the issue of racism and the general topic of enslavement. The characters in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn along with their development take an unmistakable, resilient stand against racism and by doing such in direct relation
Britain created a lot of policies to keep the colonies under their rule. They also had these policies in place because it benefited their own economy. American colonies would give Britain supplies, and they would use these supplies to manufacture for a profit. The Navigation Acts were created so that trade would be more regulated.
During the 1700s there began to be uneasiness and frustration amongst the colonist. Much of the frustration grew because of the unfair dominion that