African American and Native American History - Free Essay Sample

In the colonial era, the Native Americans and the African Americans had a strained relationship with the British colonies. It brought conflicts in the country whereby the Europeans mistreated them on a racial and religious basis. The Native American societies were positively transformed from the indigenous culture and were forced to change to the European way of living. The European presence led to extreme environmental and social changes led to the overhunting of beavers in the Northwest, for they were in high demand and were extinct in their countries. They came along with pigs, which consumed a high level of food meant for society's farmers. The Europeans also came up with owning land as individuals as the indigenous people shared the common land, and they would move from one region to another depending on the season. The religious life of the natives was affected as they were forced to change to Christianity, which led to increasing tension between them and caused conflicts. However, the natives also adopted the Western way of living and started using some products like glasses, utensils made of metal, and jewelry. They also learned the cultivation of plants like tobacco, which was in high demand in the market.

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Conflicts in the country led to the loss of many lives as they fought for their independence. The natives were against the privatization of land due to seasonal migration and the community land used for farming. They were forced to relocate to areas that received low rainfall as the Europeans needed to expand their territory. The conflicts also brought living with fear in the community due to the ambush and dislocation hence bloodshed. Also, an outbreak of diseases in the region left both the Europeans and the Natives dead as they lacked immunity. The level of starvation was high since the farms available were destroyed and privatized to individual farms.

Trade for slaves was practiced in the colonial rule and the slaves, whereby they were inadequately fed and were forced to do challenging duties. They did not receive medical attention in case of illness; further, they were left to succumb to death as no one cared about them. Further, there was brutality and were heavily punished by beating, burning, rape, or imprisonment if they differed or delayed doing what was expected. The slaves lived under strict regulations in that they were not allowed to own a firearm, and not allowed in the European premises without the owner's permission or presence. The slaves were further denied access to education since they feared they might know about the inhumane treatment and become rebellious. Access to any information was highly prohibited among the slaves, and they were not allowed to communicate with the free people in any manner.

The slaves were forced to perform different duties by the Europeans in which it was mandatory to do them under close supervision. The majority of slaves worked in agriculture plantations, like the Europeans' cotton plantations in America. Other slaves worked in different fields like domestic home duties where they were supposed to wash clothes for the Europeans, cook for them, and ensure they lived in a clean environment. Also, they worked as waiters in hotels and pubs, stable boys, and drivers in their carriages (Shi, 86). The slaves were captured by Europeans through ambushes and direct attacks and transported to their premises. They were sold to different European traders who needed them while leased daily to perform a particular activity. Slavery varied among the British Americans as they were captured for different reasons, including labor basis, military slavery, or slavery for prostitution. The slave trade changed over time as the people gained knowledge and became rebellious, and plantations ceased to be profitable.

Some may say the American Revolution never brought any opportunities and freedom among the people, but I am convinced it is the basis of all rapid changes and transformations to the current age. Firstly, the revolution secured the independence of America from the dominion of the British government. It made political and social life drastically change as it encouraged the exercise of democratic rights. The state government would be determined by the citizens through voting, hence doing away with the ruling's hierarchical system based on personal benefits (Shi, 12). It also made America open new regions of trading and markets where people would sell their items and products, which led to the growth of America's economy as people would perform business duties and get profits needed for their day-to-day survival.

The revolution further encouraged the people's settlement into their own privatized lands to perform their activities like farming or grazing. It led to creating a sense of identity and belonging as the people settled in an area are recognized as the lawful owners of that region. It also brought the equality of civil rights among the country's citizens, and the citizens were encouraged to exercise their rights where necessary. The women and slaves who were excluded from exercising their rights were given access to using the term. In the long run, the American Revolution ended mercantilism where the British government had set limitations and restrictions on trade within America and manufacturing of their products and now opened new trade relationships and grew their industries and processing zones.

Work Cited

Shi, David E. Facing Facts: Realism in American Thought and Culture, 1850-1920. Oxford University Press on Demand, 1996.