American History

The present American society dates back to colonial period and past history which is influenced by political economical, cultural and military settings. The article focuses on the American society in the colonial period by analyzing their background culture. The research and interpretation is concerned with cultural history of American nationality as impacted by European culture. Religion, beliefs, ideologies, values and way of life are all facets of the culture whereby individuals feel reluctant towards it.

The Colonial Period in America
The Colonial Period in American History is reflected to English culture and its institutional arrangements as well as development of American consciousness. The concept states that culture has social implications that involve segregation between developed high culture and basic low culture. Present United State nation is as a result of immigration of Europeans who had diverse way of thinking, culture and features. They impacted the American way of living by giving rise to new culture which is more oriented to European nationality than the native culture. Though the immigrants consisted of Dutch, Germans, French and Swedes, English were dominant in settlement to influence the culture of natives. The wealthy English landowners and merchants were men of high culture who were able to develop the practices essential in improving, spreading and establishing diverse cultures.

The Presbyterian, Congregationalists and Episcopal churches dominated early American society by establishing states and regions. Statuses of individuals were used to create states and regions. In the mid of 19th Century, they shifted to new groupings by preaching universal gospel rather than upholding past political democracy and they avoided emphasizing on trained and educated ministers. The hierarchy and centralized structures gave way to Baptists and Methodists they experienced tremendous increase in membership throughout the nations between 1800s and 1840s during onset of civil war. Despite the rise of sect, trained ministers were scarce and only weapon they could use were bibles which were used to establish true believers whom they were preached for on individualistic doctrine of free grace, individual responsibility, conversion and regeneration. Great awakening in 1730s and second awakening in 1790s brought by students of Yale and other colleges originated from New England shaped American culture and religion through successive revivals.

James Logan and Benjamin Franklin were instrumental in advancing intellects and culture of Pennsylvanians by introducing science work in the settlement. Franklin contributed intellectual activities in Philadelphia by forming debating club which turned into center of American Philosophical Society he furthered his work by constructing public schools which is known today as university of Pennsylvania. Logan on the other hand did construction for is collection of books in the settlement.

The land was dry in the settlement and could not support any farming, English introduced irrigation schemes, grain mills and sawmills. Europeans served the needs of people in settlements by engaging in trade since there were large mass of new settlers while others worked in small farms nearby. This resulted to creation of village schools, church and halls where locals and immigrants could meet to discuss matters of common interest.  The prosperity of Massachusetts Bay Colony in the mid of 17th century through commerce expansion resulted to Boston being Americas greatest ports.

Cultural diversity in the colony was further influenced by wealthy farmers and merchants who hired services of private teachers or send their children to schools in England. The desire for learning continued at the borders of established communities. The primitive Scots-Irish were firm devotees of scholarship hence they  made great efforts in attracting educated ministers to their settlements to further  education.

First immigrants in New England came with their own little libraries and continued importing books from London. In early 1680s, Boston booksellers were dealing with business of literature, history, politics, philosophy, science, theology and belles-lettres.   The first printing press was established 1639 in the English colonies and the second in North America was installed at Harvard College which gave rise to education which in turn influenced the change in cultures of natives.

Conclusion
In the colonial development stages, there was lack of influence in controlling the government. It is generally accepted that colonists had right to participate in their own government. The men who had freedom in colony had the voice in legislation that affects them. Education, farming, trade and religion played a major role in establishment of present United States society by influencing the culture of natives in the settlements.