America, a Narrative History, Essay Example

Historically, slavery was relatively modest in scale meaning that it did not predominate in the colonies inhabited by Native Americans for a while. Colonizers were particularly concerned with exploring resaouses. It appeared that when obstacles arouse due to natives’ inability coping with hash treatment and the work commitments thrust upon them, religion was used to subdue them. This was prevalent among English speaking colonies in the Americas. Christianity was the religious practice implemented to subdue Native Americans. It did not work well and they were marginalized. Virginia was one of those colonies where Jamestown settled in 1607.

Subsequently, in other English speaking colonies where African slavery took precedence, the obvious motive of whites was obtaining land for  crop cultivation,  enslaving humans. Slave trading then became another venture supporting colonization. Sadly, while the colonies became popular and slave masters/plantation owners prospered, human rights were violated. For example, when slaves arrived in the colonies they were auctioned like wild animals and the greatest bidder received the best slaves.

Native Americans continued to be marginalized because they were found unsuitable for the rigors of plantation life. By 1609 the natives realized that English colonizers wanted the land as as well having them leave the property. Virginia and Alabama were two colonies affected by the English colonization practices. Indians had to sign contacts giving up their land to English planters and a serious political struggle followed.

On the other hand slaves in Alabama endured severe cruelty on plantations. In relation to Virginia where Native Americans surrendered their land through imposed political contracts with Whites. Powhatan’s brother Opechancanough subtly tolerated the English imposition. In 1622  a strike killing almost 350 colonists  was made. Eventually  they fled the colony.