American History

Europeans have been part of the history of America since the 15th century when Spanish explorer, Christopher Columbus, discovered the Americas, paving way for other Europeans to follow. England colonized the United States for the next several centuries. In these texts, Galloway and Paine argue for and against Englands colonization of the U.S. as the latter comes to declare her independence.

According to Galloway, the United States relied on England for protection. The British therefore argued that they had the right to maintain dominance over the United States. In return, the United States was obligated to swear allegiance to Britain. Paine faults Galloway, observing that the U.S. was home to European immigrants from not just Britain, but from the entire continent. According to Paine, Britain was cannibalizing its young one.

These two texts appear towards the end of British colonial hold on the United States and Britain finds herself having to defend the colonial policy against an American who sees Britain as the enemy who has no moral right to be in the United States. Galloway defends Britains dominance by arguing that because Britain protects the colony, then it follows that the colony cannot declare independence.

Although British emigrants outnumbered immigrants from other European countries, America was inhabited by immigrants from all over Europe. Britains interest in America had little to do with protecting the colony. Britain was more interested in exploiting resources found in America. Britain however attempted to justify its colonization of America even as it became clear that it was time for colonialist to leave America. The colonizeds views are in direct opposition to the colonizers views of the justification for colonization, and urgent need to end the master-slave relationship.