It’s been 245 years today that America came into existence. Ready for some tidbits from the history of this glorious nation?
It was the peak of ice age (34000-30000 BC) when much of the world’s water was locked up in vast continental ice sheets. Bering sea was somewhere 100 meters below its current level. The first people to reach North America certainly took the route of a land bridge Beringia (over the Bering strait) that had emerged between Asia and North America.
It took these people years to move from Alaska to the area which is now the United States of America. The civilisations which developed in these early years came to be known as Incas, Mayas and Aztecs. Later they were called the native people by the European intruders.
Why did Europeans come to the American continent? Initially the Europeans were just keen to find an alternate trade route and by doing this they aimed to challenge the hegemony of the Ottomon Empire.
Columbus in 1492, appealed the Spanish Queen Isabella to support his voyage. In 10 weeks he landed in Bahamas, which he thought was an island in Asia. And when he reached Cuba he assumed to be in China. Oh, yes, world’s superpower was discovered accidentally.
This trip was followed by a series of voyages by various travellers like Vasco De Balboa, Magellan and Francisco Pizarro. This is how Europeans made their way to this land of opportunities. but the most magnificent entry was that of the British, as they became the most powerful of all the European colonisers in the years to come.
What made British colonise American continent in the first place? The first reason is known as the wool factor. French textile industry was flourishing in the 16th century and they used to collect raw material from all over Europe. Since it was more profitable therefore the farmers started pastoral farming instead of cultivation. The result was a significant food shortage. And now British had to be dependent on other nations to import food, which they didn’t want to. Therefore British needed some land for their own food production, so that they could maintain their mercantilist policy.
In addition to that, population of Britain increased from 3 million to 4 million from 1485-1603 (which was a lot at that time). The first English colony in American Continent was named as Jamestown. Slowly and gradually British were able to rule over a large territory in the continent. Other European powers like the France, Portuguese and Spain also had occupied vast areas of land.
The Europeans had settled peacefully in the American continent and developed good relations with the natives in some areas and cornered them in other areas. Century and a half went by when people, especially the British people of the thirteen British colonies in America began to realise that they are being exploited by the British government. They realised that they had little or no say in the decision making.
Series of Acts, such as Sugar Act, Quartering Act, Stamp Act, which were imposed by the British government acted as a triggering factor for the people living in the colonies. The people were of the view that they are being taxed but have no representation in the government. Therefore slogans like “No taxation without representation” became famous.
Another factor that played a major role to uplift social and political consciousness of the people was the Great Awakening of the 1740s. Travel of idea and proliferation of knowledge made the people fight for their rights. Ideas of John Locke and pamphlet of Thomas Paine known as Common Sense left a profound impact on American society.
Events like Boston massacre and Boston Tea Party were like the final blows, after which none could stop the glorious war of independence. And after having fought with an enemy much stronger than themselves, America became independent on 4th of July 1776. What made them victorious against a powerful opponent was their urge for life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
Happy Independence Day to USA.
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