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How did contact and the fur trade affect both the native peoples and the European Colonists
History
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How did contact and the fur trade affect both the native peoples and the European Colonists
In the year 1534, Jacques Cartier a French explorer, arrived at Baie des Chaleurs. During his quest, he met with the Mi’kmaq, known to be natives, and they had trading relations with the Europeans. Cartier gave an account of the life, which he experienced, while with the natives in a foreign land. The natives could not communicate well with the Europeans, and this led to difficulties during trade. The natives were the ones who had ownership of fur, and would exchange them for various European products. The latter were products made from iron such as knives.
As the fifteenth century came to an end, many Europeans came to North America due to the presence of fish. Later on, they discovered they would obtain fur from the natives, and this became the norm. There were many vital reasons why the Europeans had vetted interest in the native’s land of North America. The interests were economically and politically related, and in turn, created competition among European leaders. Those who conquered oversees colonies believed that they had obtained an advantage over the other powers. Most European powers were built using cheap resources, as they did not have a lot of money. The world, which Europeans sort to conquer, is known as the ‘New World’. Entrepreneurs in the fur trade were granted a monopoly, so that in turn, they would assist the colonizers in sponsoring Christian missions and settlements. Moreover, the natives believed that they would benefit significantly from the military and trade alliances with the Europeans.
Towards the sixteenth century, there were many changes taking place in Europe. Furthermore, the developments made many of them explore other, unknown lands. For example, the Christian Church became divided due to the different ideologies held by its followers. In turn, it led to the reformation of the church, as the Protestants migrated to various lands. The natives would be exploited for their labor, if colonies were to be successful. Resources obtained would be transported to the colonizer’s mother country. Also, there is evidence that suggests that native people in the America’s had interacted with foreigners. It seems that the fur trade paved way for other European powers to explore other areas. Examples are the Portuguese who went to Africa, and they obtained ivory, gold and slaves. The later took place in the year 1440, and many other Portuguese explorers such as Vasco da Gama and Bartolomeu Diaz did the same. Spain did the same and sent explorers such as Hernando Cortes and Christopher Columbus to the Aztec empire and Caribbean’s. The need to find a passage in the sea led to the discovery of native lands. Explorers wanted to find a link that existed between the Pacific and Atlantic. In turn, it would be easy to reach the East Indies and China, which had valuable wealth.
There was limited interaction between the aboriginals and the Europeans who were interested in the cod fish industry. Natives were appreciative of the products they acquired from the Europeans as it improved their lives. As fashion trends progressed in Europe, the need to acquire fur increased. After some time, the sources of fur became exhausted as demand had increased significantly. Whale hunting is another activity, which gained popularity, apart from the fur trade and cod fishery. Whales were vital sources of lighting lamps; some parts were used in dresses worn by Europeans. A notable whaling operation took place in the 1540’s in what is known as the Strait of Belle. The English made extreme progress in conquering their new lands such as the Ferry Land. The success of colonizers such as Portugal and Spain made France want to experience the same. French kings sent many of its citizens to explore North America, and an example is Giovanni da Verrazzano. Many ill-fated things took place in France and made it difficult to conquer other new lands. For example, there were many wars of a religious nature, which needed to be addressed. France’s interest only arose after people demanded that they obtain fur, also because the civil war had just ended.
In conclusion, after many tough and long years of hard work, France acquired its new territory. Many provinces, in the eastern part of Canada, were formed by the French as it did not succeed in North America. Acadia and Canada were known for being lucrative due to the various trade activities. Furthermore, they had developed significantly due to the fur that could be obtained. The position of Canada made it vulnerable to external assault and internal dissension. It is not known why many French explorers were attracted to Canada, yet it did not have resources as the other lands. Effective leadership is what made the French succeed in most conquest and especially in Africa. By obtaining sufficient capital, they would prosper even more. Indeed, the fur trade as well as the contact between the Europeans and the natives had significant impacts to the world.
How and why does the 1937 massacre of Haitians in the Dominican Republic either fit or not fit with the larger pattern Fergus
1937 Massacre
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How and why does the 1937 massacre of Haitians in the Dominican Republic either fit or not fit with the larger pattern Ferguson identifies?
As the Second World War was on the verge of starting, people were struggling to recover from the Great Depression, Haitians were in trouble. This period is well over seventy years old, as also during this time, in Europe, Nazism was spreading at a fast rate. During this time, Haitians were trying to cope with their lives after being under the power of the occupation by American military. There were many immigrants workers from Haiti, and nearly 20,000 of them were massacred in Haiti. They were murdered using the crudest weapons such as machetes and bayonets. Not even babies were spared by these heinous acts through the orders of the then dictator of the Dominican Republic known as Raphael Trujillo. He believed that by murdering the Haitians, the Dominican Republic “would be cleansed” (Human Rights Watch, 2002). In turn, wealthy landowners took over the land owned by peasants. On the other hand, Niall Fergusson believes that “the twentieth century will be remembered for many horrific crimes against human beings” (Ferguson, 2007). He claims that, despite their being advances in the social, political and economic arenas, violence took place. Furthermore, withdrawal of empires, ethnic group’s heterogeneity as well as economic volatility were the cause of the horrific violence.
This paper seeks to give an analysis on how the 1937 massacre by the Dominicans on the Haitians fits into Ferguson’s theory. The reasons for the massacre include; pogroms on ethnicity cleaning, ruling classes and economic progress.
Analysis of the 1937 Massacre and how it fits into the theories presented by Fergusson concerning identity
(CL). The classes that ruled in Haiti and the Dominican Republic were the ones responsible for the horrific massacre. (EV). The Dominican gave minimal compensation to the state of Haiti. It has also been proven in previous history that reactionary policies existed between the two states. The latter was through the efforts of the ruling classes in both countries. According to Wucker (2000) in Why Cock’s Fight, “two nations share more than a porous common border” and thus the reason for their fights. This means that the various upper classes join each other in many ways. Furthermore, according to the report on human rights, the various feudal classes had been struggling for many years. (WA). Ferguson believes that the need to attain power and prestige made the upper classes murder the lower classes.
(CL). Matters concerning ethnicity played an immense role in causing the horrific massacre on the Haitians by the Dominicans. (EV). For a long time, since the 1820’s there had been fights between the different ethnicities. They all wanted to own their own land, and in the year 1844, the Dominican Republic attained its independence. This is after the Haitian troops occupying the Dominican Republic were defeated. The need to attain Leadership and power were the main reasons for the clash between the ethnicities. Also, the policies, which existed in The Dominican Republic did not favor the Haitians. The policies were known to affect Haitian plantation workers by abusing and exploiting them. According to Wucker in (2000) Why Cocks Fight, Haiti and the Dominican Republic are likened to two cocks fighting in an arena. (WA). This means that the two countries were in need of “making their ethnicities better than each other” (Wucker, 2000). Ferguson believes that most of the heinous violence that has taken place is due to issues on ethnicity. For example, the horrors, which took place during Nazism were due to issues on ethnicity. Every ethnicity wanted to prove that it was more domineering than the other, according to a report on human rights.
(CL). The need to make economic progression made the Dominicans massacres the Haitians. This is through coming up with laws similar to those of apartheid, to have a supply of labor that was low wage. (EV). The Haitian workers were needed in the sectors of trade and agriculture. This meant that some of the immigrants were taking over work this would be done by legal Dominicans. It is a known fact that the Dominican Republic grew tremendously due to the Haitians workers. Despite the Haitian population being at ten percent in the Dominican Republic, they contributed to 30% of the overall economy. The Dominican Republic and Haiti had a disparity based upon wage and the economy. The latter is the mechanism responsible for the migration by many Haitians into the Dominican Republic. According to Ferguson (2007) economic volatility is a reason why the massacre took place. (WA). Since, the Dominican people were paying the Haitians they had the right to treat them brutally. Wucker believes that attaining economic power often corrupts people and makes them kill others. Even reports based on human rights seem to believe that the latter is true. Most times migrant workers are mistreated while working in foreign countries. In conclusion, Ferguson’s theories on identity fit in well with the 1937 massacre, which took place in the Dominican Republic. It seems that despite the development in the various sectors of the economy brutality never seems to cease.
References
Human Rights Watch. (2002). ‘Illegal People’: Haitians and Dominica-Haitians in the Dominican Republic. New York: Human Rights Watch.
Wucker, Michael. (2000). Why the Cocks Fight: Dominicans, Haitians, and the Struggle for Hispaniola. New York: Hill and Wang.
Ferguson, Niall. (2007). The War of the World. New York: Penguins.
Film Viewing Guide
Film Viewing Guide fo Troubled Teens: Why Some Go Bad and Others Come Right
–How have researchers in Dunedin, New Zealand studied human development?
-According to Researcher Terrie Moffit, how do Adolescent-Limited Delinquents (offenders) differ from Life-Course Persistent Delinquents (offenders) differ? Which categories do Gary’s and Paul’s experiences represent?
-What has the study learned about the large increase in adolescent risk-taking and law-breaking in adolescence?
-What did you learn about girls’ delinquency through the case example of Potoz King (the young woman) interviewed in the film)?
-What controversial findings on domestic violence are presented in the film?