Contention And Opposition In Early American History

Contention and Opposition in Early American History
Controversy and resistance have helped contour what is now the United States of America. American history is explored with conflict that may have resulted in triumph, forfeiture, liberty, and subjugation. To fully understand and rejoice in what we may consider as good; we must first fathom and investigate the negative. In this essay, demonstrations will be specified on how conflict is a significant component of American history. This process will be established by explaining significant issues and outcomes regarding six popular cases of contention in American History. These six cases comprise of, (1) the hostility between the Puritan trailblazer Ann Hutchinson and the first Governor of Massachusetts,
(4) The dispute between the individuals loyal (loyalist) to the British during the beginning of the revolutionary war; contrasted to the individuals who supported separation from the British, known as patriots. (5) The groups of the Stamp Act Congress and the Sons Of Liberty who had a constant conflict with the British Parliament. (6) The Federalists who supported more federal control of the colonies, versus the non-federalist who supported less control of the colonies by the federal government. Finally, I will demonstrate the historical implication of these conflicts to reveal broader patterns in American history.
During the early 1600’s to the mid 1600’s a large amount of Puritans traveled to North America from Europe. This massive amount of relocation was known as the “great migration” (TEV 61). Anne Hutchinson a New England Puritan who publicly criticized the religious Puritan leaders in New England for their beliefs of “good works -the catholic standard for salvation” (TEV 63). Anne believed that salvation was gifted by God, and was predetermined. This belief of God’s predetermination was termed, antinomianism, which they
The sought-after land they craved belonged to local Native Americans; who were enraged by the white tobacco planter’s constant intrusion. The Native Americans were “led by Opechancanough” (TEV 58), who operated a century old coalition of natives. The coalition of Native Americans eventually killed five hundred colonists before their final defeat by the colonists. The Native Americans finally “agreed to remain within [the] boundaries set by the [Virginia] government-in effect, on reservations” (TEV 58). As whites proceeded with their expansion, Native American conflict reached a high. Governor Berkeley and other wealthy whites maintained a peaceful trading relationship with the Native Americans. These trading relationships caused tension between the white colonists. Disputes between the colonist and the Doeg Indians led to innocent victims being killed on both sides. Governor Berkeley offered a defense by proposing “a chain of forts linked by patrols” (TEV 58). One of Berkeley’s relatives named Nathaniel Bacon disregarded the governor’s plan. Bacon was elected by three hundred colonists to confront the nearby Native Americans with violence. Bacon’s rebellion consisted of assaults on Native Americans. They “found only peaceful Indians, but massacred them anyway” (TEV 58). In June of 1676 Bacon demanded authorization to wage war on all Native Americans. Berkeley, who was intimidated, obliged to Bacon’s demands. Bacon