Early Years of American History
As evidenced by the experiences of Native Americans, ethnic immigrants, and African Americans, the early years of American history were marked by great cruelty toward racial and ethnic minorities at the cost of Americans and white Europeans. Nevertheless, the subject of civilization and colonialism blends seamlessly throughout the history of the United States.
Ancient Indian Civilization
The Americans relied on the creation stories that different tribes recounted during the early times. People were very primitive and some of them believed that they came from the skies together with their animals while others believed of miraculous happenings such as incorporation of the Earth and the sky as the father (Tindall 34). It was believed that American Indians originated from the lost continents of Atlantis while others believe that they originated from came from Africa, Asia or Europe. With time, a real origin of the Indian peoples which is Siberia on their way to Alaska as opposed to the previous believe that they originated from the underground. Archaeological digs continue to give more information on the origins of the pre-Columbian America. The Indian civilization started on the high altitudes of Peru and Mexico. Cultures varied from those of settled communities that practiced art and science of farming to the Stone Age nomadic. The civilization of the people had made many passes the outdated cultural stages which were defined by hunting and gathering in the Stone Age era by archaeologists and had settled down to practice farming (King & Richard, 165). The previously known as archaic Indians settled down permanently in villages and invented many tools like nut grinding mills, basketry, and fiber snares. They also domesticated various wild animals such as dog and turkeys. (Tindall p.34)
The Formative Stage
The archaic stage was replaced by the formative stage with the adoption of pottery and farming. The civilization Middle Americans speeded the level of cultural diffusion and innovation and promoted a jump on the tribes farther north. The Mexican Indians started cultivating crops such as maize, squash, Avocados, chili peppers, pumpkins and beans which later on became the new world’s staple food (Tindall 312). As they continued adopting the settled life, there was a change in culture, which became more complex with time. For example, the development of religion, art, craft, administration, and science became more noticeable. The Middle America eventually reached the flowering stage of its typical cultures where more centers of religion, temple complexes courts for the purpose of ceremonial games and gigantic pyramids were raised (Winsor 194). The present-day Guatemala and Yucatan of the Mayan culture and Monte Alban found the life centered in the cities. The evidence established that the mounds that suggested that there was a specialized labor division and developed social structure. Also, there was an evidence of an elaborate network of trade across the continent.
Colonialism Era
The colonialism era began when Norsemen conquered Iceland about A.D 870 from Irish settlers while the coasts of Europe were terrorized by other Vikings. There were three attempts of colonizing the sites one which was initiated by Thorvald about 1004- 1005, the second one by Thorfin Karl- Sefni between 1009- 1010 A.D but both failed to colonize the sites after a fierce attack by the natives called Skraelings (Winsor 205). The third attempt which took place about 1014 but also failed where the colonies were abandoned and the sagas forgotten.
Religious Conflicts and Reformation
The religion was fired by the beliefs of the existence of Bible as the true guide of the will of God. This made Luther decide to split the church as he tried to reform it. This made the Lutheranism spread more rapidly among the rulers and their people until in 1520 when Luther was expelled from the church by the Pope and attempts to reconcile them became impossible (Tindall 345). The increased religious conflicts and differences amongst the German States went on until 1555 when finally, a lasting solution was parched up and there were peace and unity among the parties. The principle of togetherness between the church and the state was developed and carried further into protestant lands.
European Colonization of North America
There were three countries from Europe which dominated the conquest as well as colonization of North America. The three countries which managed to conquer and colonize North America were; Spain, England, and France. The three nations from Europe used very different approaches to their colonies. North America was colonized by France later, but French focused its colonization on expanding trade networks between them and the Indian people (Lingeman & Richard 330). French decided not to use coercion and force in opposition to Indians, but they decided that they would make Indians be their trading associates. France's approaches on colonizing North America differed from that of Spanish in that France sent traders to North America where they carried out negotiations between them and the Indian people.
Indentured Servants and American Revolution
The 18th and 17th centuries were characterized by the invasion of colonialists from England who came for the American colonies only to realize that lots of lands were available but there was very little labor to work the plenty land. They used indentured servants to adapt to the need (King & Richard, 176). But the Indentured servants more likely associated with poverty, unemployment of young people from Europe who were very desperate to get to America which they referred to as “land of opportunity” and they had purposed to own the land by themselves. They signed a contract as indentures and that is how they got to America.
Achieving Independence
During the era of revolution, the colonies were forced to convert into states, create a governmental state in the center of a revolutionary war. Those governments had to provide materials and supplies and finances to enforce the war effort as asked by the Confederation Congress. Unfortunately, there was no possibility of enforcing that and it was chaotic. (Tindall 234). At the end, very few people had thoughts that Americans were having many chances of winning their independence after the war between them and Great Britain which was the most powerful military on the globe; this was because Americans had adopted diversity in their loyalties.
Forging the American Identity
Most Americans were identified with their states instead of being identified with the nations they belonged to. The president of America George Washington with his colleagues was able to bring about the sense of belonging, national unity, commitment and purpose to be able to achieve victory against the Great Britain. This was a remarkable effort by the American people led by George Washington of which took a series of years to achieve the victory (Winsor 228). In 1783, the American people after they achieved their formal independence did not immediately and automatically pronounced as an American citizen but it took them many years for them to come up with their loyalty to the American nation rather than deciding loyalty to their state (King & Richard, 189). The first American republic encountered overarching challenges due to the tension of forging the American identity. This tension continues to resonate until the present day. Despite the fact of George Washington is one of the greatest remarkable leaders, he experienced many defeats progressively during the revolutionary wars in early years. It was not until 1778 when the American Revolution was boosted with the incorporation of French which made the war to start turning.
The American Revolution
The frustration of American colonizers and the victory achieved by the British in 1763 was the main reason for the success of the American Revolution. There was the emergence of Great Britain afterward from the war between the French and the English where France was left with great debts to be settled. But England government decided to make the American colonizers pay some of the debts that French had. The Americans were required by the England government to pay the expenses of the war that was experienced in 1760's (Lingeman & Richard 348). The actions to make the Americans pay the debts led to the eruption of somewhat rebellion, resentment, and resistance and this led to the American Revolution against the British. Between the year of 1763 and 1783, the British started lamenting because they had lost Americans as their very important colonies instead of celebrating their successful victory.
Work Cited
King, C. Richard, ed. Postcolonial America. University of Illinois Press, 2000.
Lingeman, Richard R. Small town America: A narrative history, 1620-the present. Putnam Publishing Group, 1980.
Tindall, George Brown, and David E. Shi. America: A narrative history. WW Norton & Company, 2016.
Winsor, Justin, ed. Narrative and Critical History of America: Aboriginal America. 1889. Vol. 1. Houghton, Mifflin, 1889.
