Position Paper 1

Quarter 1 Position paper 1

The people who came to America were only considered losers by the narrow minded thinking of European countries. The hardest time during colonization was when the colonists stuck to the European ideas and were governed by the mother countries . American society had and continues to have the most success by using there own ideas and building an independent society.

The so called losers who moved to America were only losers by the narrow minded ideals of the old world countries. The pilgrims had to leave England or face arrest for following there religious beliefs they where considered outcasts in England not because what they were doing was wrong but because it was different. Puritans and Quakers also faced similar persecution for there beliefs. However religious reasons were not the only ones for moving to America some people left because of political unrest, many people left because of the autocratic rule of Charles I. After Charles defeat many of his followers left to go to the new world. The people who left England and other countries to journey to the new world weren’t necessarily losers but still out casts of there societies. (An Outline of American History pp.1-2)

The unrest and problems created during the colonial period were a result of the lack of English governing of the colonies even though there rule prevented the formation of local governments. Although true power over the colonies laid in the hands of the English king and parliament they were to distracted to pay attention to what went on in the colonies leaving power in the hands of local men who were perceived to be powerful because of there social status. When England stepped in and tried to apply strict mercantilism to govern the colonies discontent grew and led to the revolution.(AR pp. 128-184)

American prosperity grew from the abandonment of the old ideas and the beginning of a new country. The problems escalated until violence broke out on April 19, 1775. After the Americans won the revolutionary war and severed ties with England the leaders of America began to build a new government.