North America´s Development

In central and southern Mexico, there are fundamental characteristic that deserve emphasis at the outset. The size and distribution of Indian peoples before the arrival of Europeans had a huge effect on the development of Mexico. The differences in the historical development of central and southern Mexico and the rest of North America derive in large part from the dense concentration of Indian peoples in the highland valleys of Mexico. The Spaniards had a huge role in the changing of the native peoples if Mexico not only politically and culturally as well. The timing of the colonization was also a huge fundamental influence on its development. Spain introduced their most important legacy to Mexico, the Reconquista. This was an 800 year long process of “reconquering” the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim control. This helped define the social and economic patterns that were introduced to Mexico. Along with the reconquering, Spain was full of a renaissance drive for knowledge, wealth and power. They attempted to recreate as accurately as possible the life of the medieval lord with his titles and power based ownership of large landed estates and control over subordinate and retainers. This was only made possible through the large population of Indians living in the area. They were the ones who did the heavy lifting and built the new society so that the Spaniards could accomplish their objectives. Unlike the central and southern Mexico, the northern section had a smaller Indian population, harsh climate and wide-open spaces helped develop a completely different culture. This section was a land of opportunity during much of its history.

Canada was in a different position when it came to the development. The French created a seigneurial s...

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...nlike Quebec, English Canada was far more apt to reform. The power of the Catholic Church was an essential in the struggle to preserve the traditional culture. When change came it came quickly in Quebec. In the 1960s the revolution tranquille, in which traditional values and ways of life gave way to a new secularism that reduced the power of the church. Quebec in society, work, and politics has become much like the rest of Canada and the United states.

There have been many influential moments throughout North America that has helped it become what it is today. I have only touched on the ones the book spoke of, to write about all the moments, it would be the length of a book. It’s amazing to see how one action has such a major effect on not just one country but all three. North America has had many similarities in its development and also many differences as well.