Puritans and Quakers
Puritans and quakers were two religious groups, that were widespread and influential in the North America British colonies in the 17th century. Puritans were very strict and had special kinds of punishment for various transgressions. The character of their movement was separatistic, as they came to North America in order to establish and practice pure religion, as distinct from their motherland’s religion of Anglican Church. Quakers, on the contrary, were quite liberal and tolerant to diversity, including various religious worldviews.
I chose William Penn as an embodiment of this section, because he was a very high powered person at that time, being a sole proprietor of such a big territory as Pennsylvania. He shaped Pennsylvania’s course as a course of freedoms and tolerance, which gave good opportunities for development in scientific and other spheres’. But his impact was not limited to Pennsylvania or to that period of time only.
His actions have a wide and prolonging legacy. Many of his ideas became a part of the constitution of the new United States. Thus, today we also can see the impact of his political course in the existence of various freedoms and tolerance, that is regulated by many norms of political correctness. Sometimes these freedoms and norms of tolerance do not know any limits, and the minority begins to suppress the majority. This is a negative effect. The positive side of his influence is, of course, unlimited possibilities for self development and self actualization, respect all people, in spite of their diversity (cultural, religious national and other backgrounds).
French & Indian War
The French and Indian War broke out, because the British Empire and France competed in North America, trying to widen their colonial territory and influence. Both France and the British Empire wanted to have Indians as allies.
I chose William Pitt because he managed to change the course of the war, so that the British army began to win. He succeeded in obtaining the support of Indians with promises of fixed boundaries. But, regardless of the Treaty, colonists went forward and widened their territory.
As a result of his activity, Brits drove French out from that territory. It widened the dominion of the British Empire. And, though, nowadays the British Empire does not exist anymore, the huge territory of North America belongs to the offsprings of people from Great Britain, and thus his success in driving the French out and enlarging the territory result in today’s population composition of the USA.
American War of Independence
Soon after the French and Indian war, discontent in the policy of England arose. The idea emerged that England was ignoring the rights and liberties of the colonists. It was forbidden for them to go further to the west. Besides they were heavily taxed by the British.
I chose Thomas Paine, because he was one of those people who inspired the Patriotic war. He wrote a pamphlet supporting American independence. His slogan was ‘The new nation will be the home of freedom’. Though, for many decades it seemed, that only colonists were those people, who were to enjoy freedom. Nobody was interested in the rights of the Native Americans – Indians.
After several years the declaration of Independence was written. The principles, laid by Thomas Paine became a kind of foundation of the American Constitution, and today many Americans think, that the USA has a special mission to be a symbol of freedom and model for rest of world. Fortunately, that today freedom in this country is not restricted to one dominating nation.