Diversity In North America During The 18th Century
The ethnically diverse of British colonies in North America during the 18th
“We are a nation of communities... a brilliant diversity spread like stars, like a thousand points of light in a broad and peaceful sky.”
--------- George H. W. Bush
The United States of America has reputation as a country of freedom and diversity ever since the early time of its history- the colonial period. However, it is not until around 17th- 18th century that the British colonies in North America became the most ethnically diverse region in the world. This remarkable and amazing event of people migration happened due to mostly the three main reasons: the economic factors, the role of religion, and the political policies both of the mother country and of the colonies themselves. …show more content…
First of all, Religious was a significant component of cultural and ethnical diversity throughout colonial America. The German is a good example for the religion “push and pull” factors. Eric Foner said in his Give Me Liberty book that in the eighteenth century, Germany was under a huge religion’s conflict. People were divided into different small groups which were ruled by separate princes who would determine the official religion for the group. As the result there were many people who found themselves following the “wrong” religion—Lutherans in Catholic areas, Catholics in Lutheran areas. In the end, followers everywhere had to face persecution. Therefore, many decided to emigrate to the British colonies where they could find their freedom of religion. On the other hands, the 16th -17th centuries’ period is considered at the “religion war times” for Europe. Professor David McGee in her “Early Modern Europe” lecture slide that there was a reformation of religious, especially Christianity, unity happened in Europe. Many countries chose to remain the national and official religion as Catholic, for examples: Italy, Spain, and France. On the other hands, countries such as Holland,
“We are a nation of communities... a brilliant diversity spread like stars, like a thousand points of light in a broad and peaceful sky.”
--------- George H. W. Bush
The United States of America has reputation as a country of freedom and diversity ever since the early time of its history- the colonial period. However, it is not until around 17th- 18th century that the British colonies in North America became the most ethnically diverse region in the world. This remarkable and amazing event of people migration happened due to mostly the three main reasons: the economic factors, the role of religion, and the political policies both of the mother country and of the colonies themselves. …show more content…
First of all, Religious was a significant component of cultural and ethnical diversity throughout colonial America. The German is a good example for the religion “push and pull” factors. Eric Foner said in his Give Me Liberty book that in the eighteenth century, Germany was under a huge religion’s conflict. People were divided into different small groups which were ruled by separate princes who would determine the official religion for the group. As the result there were many people who found themselves following the “wrong” religion—Lutherans in Catholic areas, Catholics in Lutheran areas. In the end, followers everywhere had to face persecution. Therefore, many decided to emigrate to the British colonies where they could find their freedom of religion. On the other hands, the 16th -17th centuries’ period is considered at the “religion war times” for Europe. Professor David McGee in her “Early Modern Europe” lecture slide that there was a reformation of religious, especially Christianity, unity happened in Europe. Many countries chose to remain the national and official religion as Catholic, for examples: Italy, Spain, and France. On the other hands, countries such as Holland,