British North America
American culture is one of the most diverse cultures in the world since different cultures from the different parts of the world have had an impact on it. The English people contributed to the American culture during colonization. The British in North America brought different Africans, native Americans, and Europeans together of once for the first time. The various people faced challenges to living together in harmony due to cultural, religious, and social differences. The availability of Britain in North America changed every element of the people and land through the introduction of new items, diseases, and ideas that changes the Americas.
The native Americans were the regional inhabitants of the United States. They were organized into tribal lines, each with its unique subculture, practices, customs, and beliefs. The tribes had a familiar mythical story of creation where and this enhance their relations and enhanced their co-existence. Their way of life was threatened when the Europeans arrived intending to colonize American people. The Native Americans at first welcomed the first settlers but later resisted when the Europeans, mostly from Britain, started to impose power on them. The arrival of colonialism was mutually beneficial to the native people, but it changed the way of life of the people.
The life of the native Americans changed after years of living together with the colonizers. This change was seen in their religion as they turned their mythological creation stories. The started to believe that the mother earth had given birth to the different people of color. During the 17th century, the native Americans were relying heavily on the European. They became obsessed with the goods and consumed more than they can pay. Increased consumption-led them to surrender part of their land to the Europeans. With time the Europeans became interested in controlling the native people, and through these, they introduced Christianity. The commodities they got from the colonist changed their life gradually from nomadic life and the way they dressed adapted from animal skins to cotton clothes. A new weapon was introduced that made wars more lethal.
The land ownership changed from communal to private land ownership. The colonizers introduced the right to property ownership, where they build homes and fenced them and limiting the native Americans’ freedom on their land. Besides, there was an outbreak of new diseases that killed many Native Americans. The young and the old were the most affected. When the older people died, it meant the loss of tradition and knowledge, while the death of young native Americans leads to devastating effects on future generations. There were new plants in America brought during trade such as tobacco, sugarcane, herbs, seeds, flowers, roots. The British search for new medicines in North America led to the development of the science of Botany. The slaves and the native people developed their means of using the new world plants for medicinal purposes. For instance, they used the peacock flower to do abortion to prevent children from being born into slavery
The transatlantic trade led to many new commodities being brought to America. Britain also brought new plants, diseases, animals, and new ideas of land ownership. The material culture of native America changes with the introduction of new commodities such as knives, kettles, guns. During the 17th century, the native Americans were obsessed with good from Europe while at the same time, new diseases killed the native people. Those who survived learned new ways of living with their neighbors. Thus, British colonization in North America influenced the American culture to a great extent, and the effects are felt up to this time, whereby the American culture is very diverse.
Works Cited
Chapters, All, and All Chapters. THE AMERICAN YAWP, 22 May 2013, www.americanyawp.com/text/03-british-north-america/