Creating Multi-ethnic Societies

Paper Summary:

This paper introduces, discusses and analyzes the topic of colonial multi-ethnic societies. Specifically, it compares the major organizing principles of Spanish, French and English colonial society. The paper discusses these societies' growth and development and - in the English and Spanish cases - their movement toward colonial independence.

From the Paper:

"Initially, the colonies were bound by the laws and government of England, and they finally began to chafe at these laws at the end of the 17th century. By now, many other settlers were coming to America from all over Europe, and society was becoming much more of a melting pot. This would continue throughout American history as it continues today. To build a multiethnic society in America, most of the ethnic groups settled in different areas, like Quakers and Germans in Pennsylvania, the French in Louisiana, and the Spanish in Florida. They would be separate at first, but would come together as time and the temperament of Revolution brought them together. Before that, there was infighting and disagreement. Taylor continues, "The colonists bungled their war effort [in 1697] primarily because of bitter political infighting both within and between colonies (Taylor 290). The colonies would have to learn to agree to win a bigger war, and they did that as they came together with a common goal to gain independence from England. It turned out that independence was won, and even though slavery was not outlawed, the country became much more consolidated and multiethnic as a result, and it has remained as such throughout today, although there are still tensions among the races, even as equality is supposed to exist."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Allan Greer, The People of New France. An Engaging Account of the Creation of French Society Among the Indians of Present Day Eastern Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1997.
• MacLachlan, Colin and Jaime Rodriquez, The Forging of the Cosmic Race: A Reinterpretation of Colonial Mexico. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1990.
• Taylor, Alan. American Colonies. New York: Viking, 2001.

More papers on Creating Multi-ethnic Societies:

• Research Paper # 68764 : "America as a Multinational Society"
• Analytical Essay # 132411 : "Questioning Multiculturalism in Canada"
• Book Review # 68870 : "Zadie Smith's "White Teeth"

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