American Colonies: The Settling of North America

Alan Taylor is a well-known historian who is more concerned in presenting the different aspects of history and how they happened based upon the behavioral challenges that face the human communities through the passing generations. According to his further assessments, the human behavior developments naturally affect the way by which the history goes on in accordance with the plans of the people primarily in authority of changing the story of human generations.

This idea of identifying the power of humans to change their path and the path of progress of the human society through the decisions that they are making has been obviously shown through his book entitled: “American Colonies: The Settling of North America”. Through this book, he primarily outlines the different procedures of change that humans gone with through the passing years of history. HE makes it clear through this reading that the motives of humans with regards certain situations usually makes up the ways that history actually turns out to be.

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HE naturally shows that the “evil” factor that has been posted by other historians within the name of the Europeans or the whites in particular is not actually innate but has been pushed through by the primary situations that occurred during the past years in human development. About the Book The book of Taylor shows the procedures by which humans were able to discover slavery and later on were freed from it through their own motives of historical change.

The book has been further subdivided into three parts, considerably the encounters, the colonies and the Empires. Through these sections, the different pictures of human development have been shown in a progressive state. This book has been noted for its specific strength in showing the description of the aspects that actually shaped the colonial age in the American territories. The book also identifies the major reasons behind the development of history towards the present situation of the American Society.

Content and Summary Most of the historical accounts written about the American past fails to address the different points of consideration that helps readers understand and feel the essence of the stories behind a historical matter with regards a certain event as per presented within the narratives. Moreover, the presentations made by other historians point out that the American race has been made to prosper ever since it first started to exist in the world map.

Most likely, the said historians become too much nationalistic during their process of writing that at some point they are able to present the other nationalities of human population present within the historical events in a negative picture. On the other hand, the book of Taylor does away with this particular mistake that other historians commit in writing the outlines of America’s past. On the other hand, Taylor was able to balance his views with regards history and the actual situations that happened then.

Being objective in every presentation is a primary strength obviously noticeably in the book of Taylor. Taylor actually cited the different essays of other writers who discussed the same issues with regards the history of America. In this regard, he was able to present the situation of the American History in a more effective way and objective view as he aims to make it easier for the readers to understand the main idea being presented through history. In his accountable presentations, Taylor noted the years of slavery in the American history.

Unlike other historians however, he was able to show the years of slavery in a more reasonable perspective that does not put the White race in a jeopardized reputation of being evil just because they were the once that are noted for becoming the masters of the slaved races. The Indian Americans were also shown in the book of Taylor as a race that continues to struggle for freedom. In this matter however, the details as presented by the author notes that every race from every nation deserves to be free.

Moreover, this want for freedom has been noted by the author as an innate nature among humans that must be provided by those who are in the position to do so. Forced labor particularly drew the line in the past of the American society. This fact actually makes it possible for the long line of enslaved races in the process of American Society’s progress towards the present freedom that the said country is enjoying at present. To summarize the entire content of the book, the three sections could be introduced in a brief statement.

The first section on the encounters actually discusses the ways by which the American society has been discovered. This was when they were helped by the other races to evolve and to stand as one society in union. However, the said state has been shortened as the years of colonizing among the huge countries against the less-influential ones came into the picture. Most of the details actually show that other races began to take advantage of the resources of the country as well as the labor that they could provide for the mentioned nations.

The years of imperialism as empires began to flourish even made the situation even worse. Hence, the people were less able to fight for themselves. However, as detailed by Taylor, the American society was not at a rested acceptance of the situation that they were currently in during that part of the history. Their want of being free from slavery and unwanted authority from the foreign nations made it easier for them to spur the feelings of nationalism. A feeling that in turn actually lead to a more serious aim of becoming free from the grasp of the foreigners.

That want made it easier for them to create possible ways in which they could attain freedom through rebellious movements as well as diplomatic arrangements with the other country’s administration making it harder for them to progress as a unified and free society. Starvation among the natives of the country during the colonization until the imperialism era has become a major problem that made it certain for the natives to search for a better process of attaining the resources that they need.

Again, this need has been noted to have an impact on the want of the American society in being free form the snares and effects of slavery in their community. Overall Recommendation and Critique of the Reading True, men have been shedding blood through history. Because of war and continues disputes among nations, the clashing principles of governments, many soldiers die and some are becoming heroes of war because of the fact that they have courageously fought for the right thing that they believe in.

However, it must be realized that wars are not the only way by which humans could prove their courage and their loyalty to their nation’s dignity. Through the ability of man to do what is good for the majority shall also proclaim an individual the hero that he is inside. Through the notable situations that governed the American history, Taylor has shown the capabilities of the entire American community to make it towards social progress through the courage that they have within themselves.

One more thing, the reading made by Taylor helps individuals see the fact that every individual is rightfully disposed off to wanting the effects of being free. Hence, as a human society, the Americans once wanted to be freed, and now, enjoying that particular privilege has actually made it possible for them to attain the best possible way of becoming successful in any field of national interest that they aim to pursue as a country.

Taylor’s book is indeed a fine read and a clear picture of the ability of humans to fight with courage and strong will. Giving clarity to the said ability of humans, the “American Colonies” is a book recommended for everyone who wants to learn from the pages of history. Reference: Alan Taylor. (2002). American Colonies: The Settling of North America (The Penguin History of the United States, Volume1). Penguin (Non-Classics).

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