What were the major factors in the establishment of the American colonies - Research Paper Example

?What were the major factors in the establishment of the American colonies? Introduction World history has seen a lot of timelines. The prominence ofsome of the timelines made it extremely difficult for anyone to believe that such moments in world history would ever pass away but eventually, these moments of great history passed. The same phenomenon about world history makes the future of the social world quite unpredictable. For instance it is quite difficult to predict whether technology would eventually fade off to give room for a new kind of world and social history. One prominent moment in history is undeniably the formation of colonies. According to People Hofstra (2001), an 18th century definition of a colony has been given as “a settlement in a new territory under the political and economic control of its parent country. Usually the settlers conquered and either dominated or replaced local peoples.”1 Most commonly, colonies were established as a means of expanding the territorial powers of kingdoms and nations. It was not surprising therefore that major nations of the world would in the 1700s go every extent and to every length of the world to capture weaker components of the world and lord themselves over as colonial masters. One of such prominent colonization was the colonization of America by the English2. Events leading to this all important moment in world history have left historians with a lot of studies into what the probable factors that accounted for the establishment of the American colonies were. Historians also discuss the relevance of these factors and how they eventually imparted on the eventual colonies that came into existence.3 The essence of this essay therefore is to review such factors that led to the establishment or formation of the American colonies. Background to the American Colonies At the beginning of the 17th century, several countries and nations made attempts to colonize North America. These different colonies came with different mission statements and at different times. Primarily however, they were present in North America to have an opportunity to possess the land and colonize it. Some of the early countries that made progress in settling in North America include Spain, France, Sweden, Holland, and England. According to Horvath (1972, 45-57), “the literature on colonization would appear to have no end; and understandably for colonization has been one of man’s preoccupations.”4 Although colonization ranks with the most influential processes in man’s history, western scholars have not fully come to grips with the phenomenon. This assertion of uncertainty on the definition of colonization is being made because of the seemingly different forms that colonization takes. This is indeed not different with what happened in the instance of the establishment of the American colonies. The first nations namely Spain, France, Sweden and Holland landed in North America in different fashions but all left the scene in no time. Basically, these nations could not stay because the North American settlers were hostile to their dreams. Unlike these attempted colonial masters perceived, they were not going to pick gold from the ground but were supposed to go through very hard times to have their aspirations of making wealth fulfilled. England however took a bolder step apart from the first four nations. Though Britain went through ostensibly difficult times even at the beginning, they persevered and eventually became the only nation that remained. By the year 1607, England had established herself as the colonial master of North America. It took England one hundred and six more years to complete establishing what came to be known as the thirteen colonies of America5. This means that the formation or establishment of the thirteen colonies of America spanned from the period of 1607 to 1733; by which time Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island and Providence Plantations had all become colonies of Britain. These thirteen states were found along the Atlantic coast of North America. Though the establishment of colonies was quite common in those days, the thirteen colonies seemed to had gained more prominence to world history at the time and even among historians today. Several reasons have been assigned to what was peculiar about the American colonies. In the view of Koduah (2010, 132), reasons why events and happenings in the America colonies gained world publicity was the fact that the region of North America itself was taunted as a strong and formidable area that could not easily be overcome and ruled over6. Again, activities of slave trade in the Americas had made North America a place filled with a lot of useful human resource from different parts of the world. This meant that production of any sort was likely to be successful in that area. Simply put, America was an economically viable destination. To this effect, Britain was tagged to have ‘landed on gold’ when they eventually colonized North America. As the economic potential of America constituted the advantages of Britain forming colonies in America, there actually were certain factors that triggered the establishment of the American colonies other than the desire to amass the benefits or advantages discussed. Major factors Though Britain became an eventual benefactor of the rich natural resources of North America, her decision to establish colonies in North America were triggered by a couple of factors. By factors, we are making references to the intent or reasons for setting out on the mission of colonization7. Historians who have studied and conducted research into the 13 American colonies and the establishment of the American colonies point out to among other things, four major factors that influenced the formation of the colonies. Broadly speaking, these factors are the expansion of territory, the laws of primogeniture, national pride following England’s defeat of the Spanish armada and the warmer climate of North America as opposed to the bleak coast of Newfoundland8. Though there have been writers who have come up with other varying factors, these four factors are generally accepted in history and particular in studies on the establishment of the American colonies. To most writers, there is no way England would have made the ‘deadly’ attempt to colonize North America after the first four nations failed if their move was not informed by these four factors9. To this effect after settling on the land, the British grouped the colonies into various forms and demarcations depending on what they wanted to achieve. Some of the early and most popular demarcations are Dominion of New England, Province of Maine, Plymouth Colony, Saybrook Colony, New Haven, East and West Jersey and Province of Carolina. Expansion of territory In the early 17th century and years before then, world or global supremacy was judged by virtue of the extent or vastness of a nation’s or kingdom’s land of possession. These lands of possession were referred to as dominions or territories. This is to say that a nation or kingdom’s territory referred to any region or piece of land that the nation or kingdom had control over. The control spanned to include governance and rule. Colonies took instructions from their colonial masters and went about their activities in a typical fashion of a master and slave. Colonies were therefore to embody the symbolization of their masters and copy their lifestyle. They colonies were therefore to adopt the language, governance and currency of their masters. Though the colonies lived in their own land, they actually lived for their masters and lived to profit them. Such superiority commanded a lot of respect for nations and kingdoms who had larger territories and colonies. Having conquered several parts of the world at that time therefore, Britain wanted to further expand her authority and this was what informed the all important entry into North America after world giants like Spain and Holland had failed. Writing on the justification of Britain’s quest to expand her territories at the time, (Twumasi, 2011) states that there is no Britain could be judged as defaulting or breaking any known rules especially as colonial superiority was the order of the day10. Appiah (1984), believes that Britain had an ego to protect and they were therefore justified in that sense11. In some quarters, historians justify Britain’s quest to expand her territories at all course because in those days, that was the only way Britain and any other country could ensure massive and rapid development and progress. McLean, (2004), cites a typical situation where countries and kingdoms who had many colonies were the ones who developed most rapidly in those days because they amassed much wealth through the payment of tax by citizens of their colonial territories12. Apart from tax, there were instances of compulsory importation of humans to beef up the human capital and human resource of their colonial masters. England for example had a very strong army, which she was supposed consolidate to ensure continual defense and security of the United Kingdom. England therefore played this role of beefing up her army by using able soldiers from her territories, of which America was no exception. There have been writers who have There have been writers who have tried to pass judgment on the success or otherwise of the mission adopted by Britain in terms of expansion of her territories as far as the establishment of the American colonies are concerned. Searching through history and literature however, it becomes barely impossible to find any argument that points against the defense that Britain succeeded in her quest and mission. Indeed the area of land occupied by Britain in terms of colonies in North America was vast and powerful and so aided Britain to achieve her dream of expanding her territories. There are even historians who argue that the North American colonies combined forms Britain’s single largest and most powerful colony. Figure from historians indicate a continual rise in the number of citizens Britain controlled in North America as the years went by from 1625 to 1775. If the figures are anything to go by, then it would be said that Britain indeed succeeded in this course. The table below represents that population of colonial citizens owned by Britain in North America from 1625 to 1775 Year Population 1625 1641 1688 1702 1715 1749 1754 1765 1775 1980 50,000 200,000 270,000 435,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,200,000 2,700,000 Since all these people were required to show commitment to England and her allies, it could be said that the continual rise in the population rate is an indication that Britain succeeded in her quest to expand her territories. Laws of primogeniture According to Farlex (2011), primogeniture is “the status of being the firstborn child among several children of the same parents.”13 Explaining the legal aspect of the term primogeniture, Farlex (2011) continues to state that it is “a rule of inheritance at Common Law through which the oldest male child has the right to succeed to the estate of an ancestor to the exclusion of younger siblings, both male and female, as well as other relatives.” This law may seem very distant from discussion on the issues or factors leading t the establishment of the American Colonies. This not withstanding, there was a very strong linage between the establishment of the American Colonies and the laws of primogeniture. As far as Britain is concerned, the law arises because she at that time saw herself as the heir or leader of the world14. Britain actually saw herself as a rightful owner of the inheritance of the land of America as compared to the first countries; thus Spain, Sweden, Holland and France who first attempted to take up the Northern part of America. Historians hold the view that Britain held this self-made convection because of the extent to which she had gained authority and control over most other parts of the world at that time. As discussed earlier, the number of colonies a country had at the time determined how powerful that country was. Having several colonies at the time therefore, Britain saw herself as more or less the first born child of the world. There have been several arguments as to whether or not Britain was right in seeing herself as the ‘firstborn’ child of the world at that time and thus having the convection that she needed to take up North America at all cost. As far as the justification is concerned, historians are divided in that sense. However, they are several critics who believe that though colonization was largely accepted in those days, it was not the right basis for determining who was superior or who was the heir of the world. Jacobson (2008) argues that there were several powerful countries in the years before the 17th century and years after the 17th century who could have made the act of colonizing several states and countries their priority but did not15. He continues to say that most of these countries would have succeeded if they made the attempt but they simply failed to do so. To this end, he believes that the mere fact that the other countries believed in colonization and ventured into them should not be a valid basis to judge their superiority. From this argument, and point of view, it could be said that Britain did not have a moral justification to calm headship of the world and thus want to possess territories at all cost. The arguments against Britain not withstanding, the fact of the case is that to the best of Britain’s aspirations, they achieved their aim in this sense. Tawiah (1999) writes that “Britain wanted authority and she had it…she wanted respect and she had it…she wanted attention and she had it”16. This is indeed a confirmation on the success of this factor in the sight of Britain as an aspirant for world fame and control. Though Britain gained a lot of respect and control by colonizing North America, there are other historians who argue that Britain did not achieve all of her quest as far as the law of primogeniture is concerned. This sect of historian and analysts argue that Britain failed in this sense because in the law of primogeniture, the eldest son is to inherit every part of the inheritance of that did not happen in Britain’s case. Britain could not stamp her authority over every part of North America17. Upon all her efforts and desire to colonize (inherit) every part of North America, Britain could only have dominion over 13 colonies namely Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Even in these colonies, it has been established by historians that it was not every body in those regions who were under the authority of the British colony. This means that Britain did not gain total ‘supremacy’ as exists in the laws of primogeniture. National pride following England’s defeat of the Spanish armada The war involving the Spanish armada remains one of the most popular and fiercest fought wars in world history. It was fought between the Britain and the Spaniards. Armada was associated with the war because the king of Spain at the time, King Philip II designed and assembled a ship, which he called the armada for the war18. Both span and Britain were great contenders in battle at the time. Both nations had a number of colonies with Britain, establishing most of her colonies in Africa. The war was therefore to be a fierce one and it was. England was to be led by Queen Elizabeth I. Even at the time, there were a lot of analysts who viewed the war from the gender point of view. The fact that a woman was to battle a man was an issue for discussion. As things turned out, England defeated the Spanish armada and for that matter the Spanish people. This was a great pride to the British. Their pride was boosted from two major factors with the first being that Spain was Britain’s long time rival as far as warship was concerned19. Secondly, England saw herself as not just defeating Spain but humiliating her by defeating her all important armada with a woman leading the war. Subsequently, Britain was empowered by the pride of the defeat of the Spanish armada to launch herself into the American territory where Spain had gone to make early trails and incursions to colonize. England’s faith in succeeding in her bid to colonize North America though Spain had failed in her attempt was in the fact that she (Britain) had just defeated Spain’s armada. It is on this basis that historians justify Britain’s establishment of the American Colonies on the basis of the defeat of the Spanish armada. Judging from the fact that the defeat of the Spanish armada took place in the 16th century; thus 1588 but the attempt to start the establishment of the American Colonies happened in the 17th century, there are reviewers who believe that if that victory for Britain was her major basis for thinking that it could succeed in colonizing an area where Spain failed to colonize, then she was wrong. These people argue in terms of the time span from the defeat of the armada to the start of the colonization, which had almost a hundred years interval. According to them, the hundred year period brought a lot of changes to the British army and governance, which could not guarantee the kind of victory that had been won earlier. They also argue in terms of the intensity of the two instances. They say that whereas the defeat of the armada involved only the armada, the battle to colonize North America involved much more opposition and force20. The latter historians therefore try to refuse the justification of the intention with which British attempted to establish the American Colonies as far as the defeat of the armada is concerned. Though the intention of Britain is widely criticized, Britain succeeded in her move and on the basis of her attempt to establish the American Colonies in relation to her previous victory over the armada and the Spanish people as a whole. This is because true to their thinking, Britain could conquer and overcome an area of land where Spain had attempted to overcome earlier. The risk that came with this however was that the long rivalry that existed between Britain and Spain continued. Earlier, it was a rivalry that had more to do with religious in-fighting. However, after the defeat of the armada and the eventual success in colonizing North America, The Oracle Education Foundation (2010) reports that the war and rivalry continued unabated21. After successfully depending on their previous victory to establishment the American colonies, Britain also succeeded in consolidating her national pride that had been started out of the defeat of the armada. This is because by and large, the establishment of the American colonies meant that Britain was the world’s largest colonial master in the 17th century22. In addition to America, Britain now had colonies in almost every other continent with majority of the colonies found in Africa and Australia and now America. The warmer climate of North America as opposed to the bleak coast of Newfoundland There was a final factor of the climate of North America, accounting for reasons for the establishment of the American colonies in North America. This factor has more to do with the chose of location or destination as far as the choice of place to colonize is concerned. Comparatively, the whether in North America is warmer as compared to that of England and other parts of America. For this reason in Britain’s quest to set up a colony in addition to those it already had in Africa and Australia, it was reasonable for the nation to choose North America. Historians and meteorologists say that the decision to choose a place with warmer climate was carefully planned and appropriate. This is because by colonizing North America, Britain was to gain total authority and control over the economic earnings from the colonies including crop produce23. With the whether therefore, Britain was advantaged to get crop and other farm produces that where not supported by the British farmland. There was therefore an economic reason to the factor of warmer climate as a reason for the establishment of the American Colonies in the North rather than the South or anywhere else. It is worth mentioning that in the long run, Britain benefited greatly from this decision as there was an eventual boost in the food production and raw material industry of Britain. The role of the establishment of the American colonies to today’s social world Today, the reason or factors for the establishment of the American Colonies can be felt in the social lives of the British. Reviewers are however of the view that America has not been affected very much or that even if it was, it has now learn to overcome such effects24. This argument is made with the view that America’s present economy and global authority is not one that is so vast apart from that of her colonial master, Britain. America is now a leader in important global affairs such as security and economic growth. Developmentalists believe that America, unlike Africa, which was largely colonized by Britain, has put herself in a better position to develop years after the colonization. With reference to Britain, it could be said that her colonization of America is largely responsible for her present economic growth and global authority. This is because America was generally judged as an economically viable destination. As pertains in other jurisdictions with regards to colonization, even though Britain was responsible for the development of America at the time, she (Britain) also had a fair share of development coming mainly from America. Conclusion Colonization seems to be a thing of the past today but there is no denying the fact that countries who ventured into colonization benefited greatly from their decisions. More importantly has to do with the individual factors that led to the establishment of the various colonies. For Britain, the selection and factors leading to the establishment of colonies in America were by and large to the interest of her development and progress. With Britain having had colonies in Africa and Australia, the choice of America came as an additional benefit. Finally, it must be emphasized that though a couple of the factors that led to the establishment of the colonies have been criticized, these factors were largely to the benefit of Britain and as of now, (Appiah, 1984) observes that Britain should have no regrets over her decision to establish colonies in America25. Read More