Bacon’s Rebellion (1676–1677)
Bacon’s Rebellion (1) had a great significance for the history of the United States because it had been the first uprising in the new American colonies aiming to defend democratic values. It occurred in 1676. Bacon’s Rebellion, initiated by Nathaniel Bacon along with hundreds of poor and afflicted people, affected the Virginia colony, in a minor sense, and the whole country, in a greater sense, because it became a precedent for the other oppressed people to understand that they may fight for their rights (Jefferson, 1993). This, in turn, became an important foundation for the country’s ideals in the future. Seven Years War (2) took place from 1756 to 1763. This war affected many countries and territories including America, Europe, and Africa. Its significance was in the redistribution of the spheres of influence in the world, and especially in the colonial territories. Anglicization (3) was a process aiming to adapt the cultural peculiarities of New England so that they would clearly reflect the cultural concepts existing in England. This process included linguistic matters. It began in the colony of Virginia at the end of the XVII century, spread over all the colonies of those days, and continued for a few decades (Jefferson, 1993). The importance of this process during those days could be hardly underestimated by prominent politicians and common people of the land because it helped shape the system of values of the American people for the centuries to come. Dartmouth College case (4) became a significant precedent in American history in 1816 (Dartmouth College, n. d.). In the example of Dartmouth College, an important issue of nationalizing a privately owned institution had been raised. On the example of this case, a conclusion had been made that it was not possible for the state to nationalize an institution that had been in someone’s private ownership, and, thus, became an important landmark in the history of private ownership in the United Sates. Thomas Auld (5) was one of the prominent slave owners of his times. His name became significant for the history of the country because of a famous Frederick Douglass’ letter addressed to him. In this letter, Douglass discussed important matters related to abolition in the United States (Watch We Shall Remain, n. d.). Consequently, the figure of Thomas Auld (which could be not his real name) became significant in the American anti-slavery movement.
The Culture of American Voluntarism and its Contribution to the American Revolution
The culture of American voluntarism is one of the key features of a new born nation that managed to create one of the most powerful states in the history of humanity. Voluntarism reflects American spirit, the spirit which is known for its desire for liberation, and the triumph of democracy. Due to their pursuit of freedom and triumph of human rights, American people managed to succeed during the great American Revolution (The Declaration of Independence, n. d.).
The culture of American voluntarism had a number of important characteristics that played their important roles in the American Revolution. Among those characteristics were the desire to have freedom of religion, to have equal opportunities in land-tenure, to have just standards in penal affairs, and to have regulated norms for acquiring a decent education for all people. All these pursuits became a very important dynamic power behind the actions of all desperate fighters for justice. As a result, the American Revolution was among the greatest accomplishments by the new-born nation. Without the culture of voluntarism, the possibility of such success could be arguable.
It is no wonder, especially with regards to numerous examples in the other lands. Even nowadays, the absence of the culture of voluntarism among particular nations leads to considerable problems for many nations which can be seen on the illustration of Arabian revolution that took place in the 2010s. All in all, American thirst for democracy, liberation, and justice, which is the basis for the culture of American voluntarism, is more than important for all the mind-blowing achievements that have become possible for the nation. One of the remarkable examples of such achievements is the American Revolution. It is difficult to argue that such a vindication of democracy after the revolution could happen without American voluntarism.
American Racial Consciousness and its Role in American History up through Reconstruction
American racial consciousness came from the ideals valued by the European inhabitants that had arrived to the new lands with a purpose of establishing a new order that would dwell on the foundations of justice and democracy. These new colonists mainly were the representatives of different Protestant Churches, and looked for a better lot in their lives. These people believed in religious truths from the Bible that taught to love their neighbor despite any external factors such as race, origin, background, and so on. In the later period of time, such religious values were rethought and transformed into the values of a different nature. They became political values and general human values, common among different representatives of the American society. With the duration of time, through the efforts of such outstanding men of their times as Abraham Lincoln, these values became more and more valued by the wide masses of the American society, and eventually led to the vindication of democracy for all inhabitants of the United States including Native Americans and African Americans.
The first colonists, that came to the American lands in XVI century, were fearless people who knew what that meant to have their ideals and fight for them. Those people gave a birth to the new nation that eventually managed to found the United States of America. The ideals that were cherished by the new settlers were equality for all, freedom for all, and justice for all. These ideas were based on the concepts from the Holy Scriptures, and, thus, they had a religious origin, at first. Of course, not all people who came to the new lands had similar systems of values. On the contrary, many of them were corrupted by the ideas of enrichment by means of exploitation of Native Americans, and later, they decided to find the other recourses in African lands. As a result, the two opposing camps appeared in the American society. Initially, people who were governed by their materialistic pursuits including greed, gluttony, and lust, managed to rule over the majority. Thus, too many issues regarding Native Americans and African Americans were raised. For example, addressing the major sources of friction between the Indians and the English in Virginia and Massachusetts Bay, it appears that they were both connected to the issue of land owing. In Virginia, the settlers faced the difficulties of surviving the epidemic of malaria and finding food for restoring their powers. Led by John Smith, they strived to war down some lands for themselves in order to find food there. Local population also needed these lands for their survival. Such controversy established strong grounds for the conflict between the new comers and the native inhabitants of the land (Oberg, 1999). In Massachusetts Bay, the situation was similar as English settlers also were in need of land. These settlers were more successful in their efforts to find feet in the new territory. Their colony was growing along with the need to feed the population. When wild animals were killed for food, and hunting was no longer an option for finding ways to survive, the settlers decided to have flocks of home animals such as sheep and cows. Still, the other problem was in finding land for the animals. That was the reason why the settlers started battling for the land with the local population which initiated rivalry among the nations. This battle for the land with the Native Americans led to the raise of racial issues with regards to the fate of the Native Americans. Addressing the case with African Americans, the issues related to their problems were raised with regards to these people’s freedom from slavery, and their further status on the territory of the United States.
The final period of the formation of American racial consciousness, and the most active one, took place during Abraham Lincoln. In his multiple addresses to the American nation, he aimed to enlighten people regarding the need for equality and justice for all (Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address”, n.d.). This highly educated man spent endless hours meditating on basic human rights and justice that helped him establish a new politics for the entire nation. He patiently shared his findings with American people that helped him eventually win their hearts. His strong appeal to the nation included phrases such as this one: “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal” (Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address”, n. d.). People trusted in Lincoln’s words, and agreed that slavery was no longer possible in the United States because it was a shame and a reproach for the glorious American ideals of democracy. Lincoln united the majority of American citizens around the idea of the impossibility of racial discrimination and bias. His legacy became a basis for the other enlighteners to assist the nation on the pathway to the triumph of justice for its non-European born citizens. After Lincoln’s Presidency, the other political and public figures helped African people acquire full freedom, and defend their interests as legally affirmed American citizens. Lincoln’s activity had similar significance for Native Americans. Although their issue was not solved completely, they also acquired more rights. In particular, it became possible for them to keep their cultural values and maintain their ancient traditions and customs on their historical lands called reservations. It was definitely a significant achievement for Native Americans, but it should be admitted that it did not solve their problems completely. In this aspect, the African American population received more benefits.
References
Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address”. (n. d.). Web.
Dartmouth College v. Woodward. (n. d.). Web.
Jefferson, T. (1993). Notes on the State of Virginia. Web.
Oberg, M. L. (1999). Dominion and Civility: English Imperialism and Native America, 1585-1685. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
Watch We Shall Remain. (n. d.). Web.