Colonial Unification DbqEssay Preview: Colonial Unification DbqReport this essayColonial Unification” Societies take their shape from any number of forming elements, some roughlyidentifiable, some obscure and mysterious. There is a strange interplay betweenideas and geography, between thought and the landscape that thought encounters;between inherited ideas and acquired environment.” (pg 152 Smith, Page ANew Age Now Begins)History has shown us that in order for a society to flourish there must be some commonality within the society. Sharing similar values, interests and cultures may be the basis for forming a community. The true test of a society is when communities can comprise, merging together as a larger, stronger, united society. For this process to even begin, there must be a common factor, be it foe, economic reasons, etc., a common goal amongst the communities. A prime example is the creation of a united American society. To truly appreciate the complexity of forming a united society you must first understand why these groups of people came to this strange new land. What similarities they shared, the differences which divided them and the force which unified them.
In the early 16th century immigrants from England fled their country in search of a better life. They fled their homelands for many reasons; poverty, religious intolerance and persecution, others in search of an adventure or for a new start. They packed up their families and possessions some even brought their servants, embarking on a perilous journey across the Atlantic Ocean and reached the land known today as America. The first of the immigrants landed in two regions; the Massachusetts bay and the Chesapeake Bay. Both these regions would soon be colonies known as Massachusetts and Virginia, both major colonies. Throughout the years more and more people started to flee their homelands in Europe and come to America.
Soon there were colonists from all over the world, from Europe to Africa. By 1732 there were a total of thirteen English colonies. Those thirteen colonies were broken up in three sections, the New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies.
These colonies had their differences and these differences attracted different kinds of people to the colonies. For example many large religious families immigrated towards the New England and Middle Colonies because that is were most of the religious tolerance was. Pennsylvania was known as the “Quaker Haven” because of its tolerance to many religions. Delaware was also an extremely tolerant place. They were even tolerant towards the religion of Judaism. Meanwhile down south the people, mainly young adventurous types, were looking to become plantation owners or merchants. The south was known for its money making stable crops such as tobacco, rice, and indigo. It also became a major trade location for a variety of goods and valuables.
Although the colonies had their differences they also had their similarities. “The shared experiences of trade, language, English law and military activity laid the foundation for the union of the colonies in 1776.” (Pg 25 American History The Easy Way). They also shared their reason for leaving their homelands, freedom. Many settlers were sent here to procure land and develop European settlements for future immigrants. However, they were under constant threat either indirectly or directly from either the Spanish, French, or Indians. The Southern colonies were under threat of the Natives and the Spanish while the Middle and New England were under threat of French and some Native tribes. The New England colony was the only colony that allied
themselves with certain Native American tribes. Also each and every colony had sworn a common allegiance to the British Crown. Whether they give a percentage of income to the motherland or allow England to do as they please with their land they were all still loyal in some way to their old kingdom, at least in the beginning.
Each colony had its own uniqueness, but there were certain events that drew the colonies closer to later form a whole. The American settlers were beginning to form their own societies and political structures. But events such as the Navigation Act reminded the colonists of their place in the English Imperial System. The Navigation Act was a regulation on trade enacted by Parliament in 1660 which required the colonies to trade only with England. It required that all goods (enumerated articles) must travel on English ships comprised of English crews. The laws reflected the economic policy known as mercantilism, which held that colonies exist for the benefit of the mother country as a source of raw materials and market for its manufactured goods. (pg. 31 Soifer, Paul Cliffs Quick Review U.S. History I). The Navigation Act was meant to reign in the colonists while benefitting from the fruits of a new land. Although many colonist still remained loyal to England, they had after all fled England and its Parliamentary control. Like a child growing up and leaving the safety, security and restrictions of their parental home to form their own life. So did the Colonists, They were growing away from Mother England.
The Great Awakening was an event that began to unify the religious background of the colonies. “By mid-century, the dissenters in every colony had made tremendous gains, especially among the common people, Through the religious revival known as the Great Awakening. This was the first important and spontaneous movement of the entire English colonial population. (Pg.
107 The Growth of the American Republic) The Great Awakening was a Protestant movement of revival that took place during the 1730s and 40s. One of the men who started the movement was a preacher from Massachusetts, his name was Jonathan Edwards. Edwards sought to return to the Pilgrims strict roots of Calvinism and to reopen the “Fear of God.”Edwards was an extremely good preacher who drew crowds of enormous sizes that would listen to his sermons. George Whitefield, an English preacher, and other preachers continued the movement Edwards had started. They traveled throughout the colonies preaching in and emotional and dramatic style. There is little doubt that the Great Awakening contributed to an increase in church membership and the creation of new churches. “Not one colony
”The expansion of America’s rural areas, the increase in the number of middle-class persons, and the rise among the black population made for what is commonly called a national shift in the Protestant belief. American churches were growing dramatically in size and began to take a greater number of people and families out to participate in worship at the highest level of belief. As the growth of the Protestant movement grew nationwide, churches throughout the 19th century became home to some of the most powerful and accomplished political figures and leaders, who spoke their mind without the aid of public opinion. For example, Robert B. DuPont was a leader in a movement that was born of a deep and personal spiritual deep state of mind, by which he, God, and man were transformed into one and equal. This power of influence on the spiritual life of the community was not contained by the Constitution of 1802. In 1814, the Constitution was restored to Congress, by which it was made the final law of the country. During this same period, Congress had some other work in its power to take care of the rural communities, which were increasingly dependent on state aid and assistance from the state and local authorities and not all of which is available and at times extremely expensive. This was one of numerous and even more extensive provisions passed during the following decade of the 20th century. To some extent, American churches are considered the pioneers of religious and national leadership at the same time they are being embraced by religious authorities and officials at the federal, state and local levels. In fact, churches are known to have received much respect from federal authorities throughout the 20th century. Church members, elected officials, clergymen, and many other leaders of the community who were not part of the Church at all have often been quoted and praised in national and local media for their missionary work and work of service in providing the services the members of the Church sought. One of the most famous pioneers of Christianity, Thomas Paine, was the most successful church pastor of America for the next 50 years and was the great head over the pulpit of the largest Church on the planet and was at it for many years. Paine was also a great inspiration for a number of leaders and government officials, who, when confronted with the questions posed by the new American world order, gave them great encouragement to stand up and preach as well and for the good of the Church. “I am not afraid that my friends and neighbors may think I am nothing but a good man who always stays in my prayers for the comfort of his beloved saints. But I think I shall never be defeated in that which I did not know the God I have learned to know. I have told all Christians that there is no one I shall have more advantage to be in the ranks of than myself. My dear friend, I say to you, I hope you are convinced by my words to God that in God I am the true God.” “I know how to find the spirit and the power of God, that he may put me in the kingdom of heaven, where I can find my Father, and I know how to show my mercy to him, even if it