American colonies in early 1600 and 1700 Name;
Institution;
Date;
INTRODUCTION
America’s colonial history can be described in terms of the economic, political
and social events of the early sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The two centuries
came with two sets of societies altogether. No historian will contest the fact that the start
of the 1600 and its formative years marks the starting point of the American colonies’
history of existence.
The American native society had a tight hold of their territories albeit without
any form of a structured government but had a well organized defense outfit to check
intruders (Adams, 1921). The invasion by the English and other European giants and subsequent formation of the thirteen colonies was characterized by tribal and cross culture fights pitting mainly the native tribes against the colonizing English between 1600-1650. This points to an era of cultural disorientation and societal instability. Disease, poor weather and tribal warfare made it impossible for meaningful political, social and economic endeavors to materialize. Small-scale farming was the main economic activity in this era. The introduction
of tea and tobacco in early 1600 gave the American colonies the opportunity of
agriculture for trade and subsistence. The 1700 came with a different social, economic
and political arrangement (Adams, 1921). The thirteen colonies each had an elaborate governance structure. The American colony of Pennsylvania had its first constitution in1701, no doubt then that the society already had a sense of respect for human rights and freedoms as they would call it ‘the Charter of Privileges’. This new set of laws guided governance and people’s conduct within and without the society (Schlesinger & Arthur, 1993). AMERICAN COLONIES IN EARLY 1600-1700
References: Adams, Truslow. J [1921]. The Founding of New England. Atlantic Monthly Press. New York. Gipson, L [1936-1970] The British Empire Before the American Revolution (15 volumes) Pulitzer Prize. Schlesinger, Jr., Arthur M. [1993] The Almanac of American History. Nobles Books, Greenwich, CT.