Why Life Matters: Government Influence

Colonies: 4th Grade Why Life Matters: Government Influence

Life: There were many groups of people (or life) involved in the colonization of early America.

The word “life” means to experience the world and the people around you. The word can also be used as a way to describe how someone might have lived. The word life can explain how your body works, and how you spend your time. It is also an idea as well as a feeling, some even say that life is a mystery! When thinking of the word life, there are some questions we can ask ourselves:

What is the most important group of people in your life?
What are some of the things that impact your life each and every day?
In what ways do other groups of people impact your life — like teachers, leaders, and authority figures?

There were three groups of life that impacted the settling and colonizing of early America: Europeans, Native Americans, & Africans.

European colonization and settlement of North America (and other areas of the “New World”) was marked by a movement of outsiders into the territories settled for centuries by the Native Americans. The Native Americans perceived the Europeans’ arrival as an encroachment and they used many measures to deal with it. The Native Americans were unsuccessful in the long run in establishing favorable relations with the Europeans, which was the result of a number of things. For example, the impact of diseases, as well as superior military forces, were among the main reasons the Native Americans were not able to hold onto their lands. To view American colonization from a Native American perspective is essential in understanding the complex interaction of the many groups of life that migrated to America during this unique time in history.

It is also important to keep in mind how another group of people (or life) influenced the colonization of the Western Hemisphere — the Africans. From the beginning, English and European attempts to establish colonies in the Western Hemisphere were slowed down by the small number of laborers they had to help with the hard work of colony-building. The Spanish, for example, enslaved some Native Americans in regions under their control. The English used indentured servitude to solve the labor problem in Virginia. Virtually all the European powers eventually turned to African slavery to provide labor on their islands in the West Indies. Sadly, slavery was eventually transferred to other colonies in both South and North America.

The early colonial government system both positively and negatively influenced colonial life for these groups.

THE YEAR IS 1754…

In 1754, Connecticut, Maryland, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts worked together on making a treaty (agreement) that would help bring the colonists and the Iroquois tribe closer together. Governors from these seven colonies met in Albany, New York, and they called themselves the Albany Congress. This treaty, The Albany Plan, called for a congress with powers different from the colonial government.

THE YEAR IS 1754…

These powers included negotiating with the Native Americans, keeping up with the military forces, controlling the public lands, and collecting taxes. The Albany Congress liked the treaty they wrote, but the colonies could not ever reach an agreement on it because they enjoyed having their own separate powers and different ways of doing things.

The word “life” means to experience reality by interacting with the environment and with others. Giving something back to the world through creativity and self-expression. Changing your attitude when faced with a situation or circumstance that you cannot change is a good approach to life. Keep this definition in mind as you navigate through the establishment of early American Government.

Colonial government represented an extension of the English government, which means the colonies had to follow the rules of the English crown. This structure impacted how the colonies were governed, how the colonial people interacted with the other colonies and their relationships with the Native Americans.

The original 13 colonies were British colonies established between 1607 and 1732. Virginia was the first colony and Georgia was the last. In 1763, the British won the French and Indian War and became the dominant global power in early America.

As a result, the British started taxing the colonies, which ultimately led to the American Revolution. Each of the 13 colonies had similarities and differences within their types of governments that influenced their life and the future unity of life in the colonies.

As time went on and the colonies became more established, some of the barriers to unity disappeared. More roads were built and shipping increased, which made travel between colonies easier. A post office was established in 1753, which allowed for information to easily move between the colonies.

The distance between the colonies made travel and communication difficult and the different religious beliefs made it hard for everyone to unite.

Government, community, and liberty were on the rise in colonial America. Education prospered during this period in American history, too. Several of the most well-respected and recognizable colleges and academies today were established during colonial times. These colleges include:

Harvard (1636). Located in the Colony of Massachusetts.

William and Mary (1693). Located in the Colony of Virginia.

Yale (1701). Located in the Colony of Connecticut.

Princeton (1746). Located in the Colony of New Jersey.

Columbia (1754). Located in the Colony of New York.

Brown (1764). located in the Colony of Rhode Island.

Dartmouth (1769). Located in the Colony of New Hampshire.

Due to more stable and democratic government systems, life in the colonies became stronger and more unified. Education was expanding, more people were migrating to the new world, and money was being made in the colonies.

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