The colonists were cut off from the main land, obviously not literary, but information traveled slower. News about the changes taking place in Europe made their way to America and this served as a catalyst to an already brewing set of ideas about separating from England. This idea was translated to the needs of the colonists to serve their needs to attain freedom. Originally, these were people leaving their homes and everything they behind, to embark on a journey across the world. At first homesick and trying to make the best of what they had to work with in the new land, now a strong emerging little nation finding its own identity, its own voice and ready to go to war to be recognized and to be heard. I only hope that most of us in here in North America realize how extremely lucky we are for what was handed to
The arrival of the first Europeans in the Americas is dramatically captured through the many writers who attempted to communicate what they saw, experienced and felt. What is more, the very purposes of their treacherous travel and colonization are clearly seen in their writings; whether it is poetry, history or sermons. Of the many literary pieces available today, William Bradford and John Winthrop’s writings, even though vary because the first is a historical account and the second is a sermon, stand out as presenting a clear trust in God, the rules that would govern them and the reason they have arrived in the Americas.
The British colonies in the Chesapeake region and those of the New England region were both similar yet different in certain ways. One because both the colonist that settled there were looking for new opportunities. However, it was mostly second son aristocrats, which means the first born usually inherits the better half of the father’s riches. Their lives in England had either been mistreated or they were unable to flourish economically. Regardless of whether they were searching the land for expansive homesteads, religious freedom, or exchanging and merchant opportunities, the colonist in both regions were searching for another land in the New World. They were getting away from issues they had experienced in England, which took into consideration colonists to be similar.
To start with, slavery was growing at a rapid rate. New laws made it legal for owners to own enslaved people for their entire lives. They had little or no chance for freedom. Slaves were legally considered property, not people. Slaves were also restricted by a set of laws called Slave Codes; these laws were their rights and rules for living. For the rest of the colonists, they believed they had natural rights: rights they were born with. The three main natural rights thought to have were life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness; these were included in the Declaration of Independence. Personal rights were very important to the colonists and they were determined to display how they felt to the government.
The people of America (colonists) were tired of being controlled by England. They wanted to be free and independent. They believed that they were able to control themselves and be their own country. They wanted England to let go of their control and to view them as independent and their own country.
Although all the colonists all came from England, the community development, purpose, and societal make-up caused a distinct difference between two distinct societies in New England and the Chesapeake region. The distinctions were obvious, whether it be the volume of religious drive, the need or lack of community, families versus single settlers, the decision on minimal wage, whether or not articles of agreements were drawn for and titles as well as other social matters were drawn, as well as where loyalties lay in leaders.
Both the English Bill of Rights and Thomas Paine's Common Sense displayed interesting and creditable views regarding how to develop and maintain a well-functioning society through a well-structured government. The English Bill of Rights aligned a list of basic rights granted to individuals which included fair taxation and forbid cruel and unusual punishment. Common Sense is a well articulate essay that urges for the independence of the thirteen colonies from the British. In his text, Paine noted the importance of differentiating society and government, and condemned the practices of British monarchies (Paine, 62). Both documents theorized that political authority over the people should be fluid and well-constructed through a fair and equal governing body in order to ensure a equal and well-functioning society .
Socially and culturally, the three groups of colonies grew to be completely different. The New England Colonies’ life was controlled by the Puritan religion. These colonies were not religiously tolerant even though its’ main reason for settlement
When explorers first voyaged west, new towns sprouted in North America such as; Jamestown, Virginia and Plymouth, Massachusetts. These towns set laws and rights in which to obey on their long trip to the Americas. Eventually in the course of history the thirteen American Colonies we controlled by the English. The English were viewed as the mother country and profited greatly through trade and commerce within the colonies. Although over time the colonist government adopted British rights. Two specifics rights transformed into colonist life where they had the right to bare arms, and another being the citizens have a right to their property. These rights were enjoyed by colonists during the mid 1700’s just before the American Revolution.
William Penn wanted his colony of Pennsylvania to be a place for religious freedom. He did not want a focus on religion to be the main criteria for his government. “Penn’s Frame of Government prohibited swearing, drunkenness, and adultery, as well as popular entertainments…(Foner, 97).” Meaning that he focused more on public morality than religious morality. Many seeking religious freedom to practice would come to Pennsylvania. During the first years of settlers in the colonies, life in the New England colonies was a struggle compared the southern colonies. Many farmers couldn’t grow much food and farmers were having a difficult time finding a stable product like sugar or tobacco(page 80). The southern colonies had found their marketable product and had gained more economically than the northern colonies. With labor costs low due to indentured servants and slaves, the southern colonies flourished. Ira Berlin calls this generation of slaves the charter generation. The colonies needed labor but did not depend on slaves, it was a society with slaves not a slave society. Since New England was behind on finding a stable crop slaves and
Any person who has studied Pennsylvanian history knows that William Penn wanted his colony, his “Holy Experiment,” to act as a haven of religious tolerance for his fellow Quakers and other marginalized groups. However, Penn was a business man as well as a member of the Society of Friends, and he knew that acquiring land on which to settle Europeans was the only way to make his colony successful and profitable. In order to reconcile his financial need to continually expand his holdings in Pennsylvania and his belief (founded in the Quaker teachings which professed the equality of all persons) that Native Americans had a right to their lands, Penn made it clear that land in Pennsylvania would be bought from the Indians, not taken from them.
Describe the workings of the colonial assemblies. How did these assemblies operate with the understanding of salutary neglect? (105-106)
When you think of America you often think of independence and individual freedom, but what made early American want this freedom? The British restriction of trade and control of state governments merely angered Americans, but with proposals like Thomas Paine’s Common Sense it stirred our spirit into more than rebellious one. These things lead to American Revolution, and this revolution lead to the Treaty of Paris, the U.S Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. All these outcomes of the Revolution are incredibly important to American History and to what we are now as Americans.
This source was written in 1768 and appeared in the Pennsylvania Chronicle on January 11, 1768. This was right around the time when the British were taxing the colonist relentlessly, which clearly influenced the topic of this essay.
An example of a life-changing milestone or right of passage in a person 's life is something that changes a person in multiple different ways. When I was younger, I would always hear my older brother Jay, ask my grandparents if he could drive the four wheeler, and always hearing him ask finally inspired me to try and ask to see if I could drive it. Believe me when I say I was persistent in asking. My grandparents, they never heard the end of it from me.