The invocation of divine will is an example of one of the many ways in which Europeans sought to change the story about their relationship with Native Americans during America’s early history. They describe themselves as intellectually and culturally superior, as deserving of the land they call theirs. Jean O’Brien argues in her book Firsting that New English history utilizes narrative frameworks to erase Native American’s role in history United States Indian policy and history. This essay will argue that these frameworks utilize race and culture as divisive tools, as well as paternalistic ideals to claim power over Native Americans. Finally the re-scripting of events through diaries and other literature that describe Indian “occupation” rather than possession or nativity, or the “first” wedding in a New English colony to manufacture a status quo where the New English become native New Englanders, and where Indians become intruders in settlements rather than the land’s native inhabitants.
Another reason for migration was the idea of primogeniture, which allowed the eldest son to inherit the wealth; leaving others desperate and in hopes of finding riches overseas. Also, many fled to America to escape peonage or prison. These social concerns in England ended up populating the colonies because people believed they would find a better life in America. The second major way that England shaped the colonies were the English politics. At some points, colonists seemingly were allowed plenty of freedom, while other times they were under strict English rule.
After Spain and Portugal had made settlements in America, they realized that they had to cope with the indigenous peoples of America, the native Americans. However, instead of coping with them, all they have managed to do is keep them down and suppressed. There was an obvious hierarchy going on in the American colonies at this time, with the indigenous people at the bottom and the peninsulares, people born in Spain and Portugal, at the top. Spain and Portugal felt threatened by the number of indigenous people and reacted by enforcing strict reforms. The objectives of these reforms were to simply keep the Creoles from being superior or even on the same level as the Iberians.
APUSH DBQ ESSAY The view of overseas expansion in the late 19th and early 20th century was mainly driven by Imperialism. With that being said, there emerged two groups with viewpoints on overseas expansion, imperialists and anti-imperialists. Although there are plenty of differences, the main one between the two was over territorial expansion. The imperialists were all for it, thinking that it would help the American market and the depressed economy from the panic of 1893. On the other hand, the anti-imperialists argued that it went against our American democracy and was harmful to the territories we were trying to acquire and our country itself.
In Frederick Turner's thesis, “The Significance of the Frontier in American History,” he identifies the importance of the frontier as a medium for the growth of the American character and individualism. Turner explained how the “existence of an area of free land, its continuous recession, and the advance of American settlement westward” would be a cause for development and advancement (530). By providing the settlers with a vast new world, the frontier enabled them with new problems and opportunities to create something new. The Atlantic coast was a place of freedom and the start of it all. Populated by diverse groups of immigrants, the new world was a place that the Europeans could strip off their old lifestyle and be reborn.
American history has been continued by contradictions which are mixed by slavery, conquest, democracy, and freedom. The discovery of the new land by Christopher Columbus is the beginning of the contradictions of American history. In other words, this discovery of the new land is the initial move of the European conquest of America. In the document, “King Ferdinand Letter to the Taino and Arawak Indians”, there are some clues that lead us to conquest of America. “Their Highnesses are lords and masters of this land; they were acknowledged as such when this notice was posted, and were and are being served willingly and without resistance; then, their religious envoys were acknowledged and obeyed without delay, and all subjects unconditionally and of their own free will became Christians and thus they remain.
American Imperialism in the Nineteenth Century As a growing nation, the United States felt the need to continue expansion for the benefit of all citizens. Territorial development allows for growth in population and natural resources to produce goods and supply services for prosperity. To acquire or control territories, forcible means would sometimes be used, otherwise known as imperialism. This paper will describe imperialism more intently. Advantages of imperialism will be discussed, as well as some of the disadvantages.
However, with the Indians, race played a factor because they were of dark complexion unlike the Irish and the English wondered if they were different kinds of savages. The play, The Tempest, took place in the New World near Virginia which meant the savages referred to in the play were the Indians rather than the Irish, and the Indians were compared to Caliban in the play, while the British were compared to Prospero (29). The Indians were described as cruel and barbarous in the play; in addition in Nova Britannia they were described as “wild and savage people who were of tall stature, and of [black] swart
Turner believed that the idea of the frontier shaped the American being and their characteristics. He talks about how the frontier drove American history and that is why America is how it is today. Turner proves how expansion to the American West changed peoples' views on their culture. Due to the gain of new lands, this aided the problem of the closing frontier, and helped America become a rising world power. Teddy Roosevelt gave out a command to invade the Philippine islands if war had risen with Spain.
Clearly this was an unethical act. Thus, the first contact between European and non-European worlds was carried out through a decidedly European prism, which ensured Spanish claim to the islands of the Americas. Faced with a colony in an inhospitable area, the Spanish soon inaugurated the practice of sending regular military parties inland to subdue the increasingly hostile natives. Members of the indigenous population were captured and enslaved to support the fledgling colony. The object of Columbus’ desire changed from exploration and trade