How Did Greed Influence The Colonies

Within the development of America and European settlement, there have been many influences. One of the biggest influences has been greed from 1492-1815; this greed has been present in the Spanish, French, and British colonies. This greed was a key factor in the finding and development of the above people. The following will look at specific examples in the Spanish, French, and British colonies as well as examples from the book A Midwife 's Tale by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. Starting in 1492 the Spanish came and conquered the Caribbean Sea Islands in hopes to enslave the natives to mine gold and silver. Once arrived the Spanish find that there is not any gold or silver but there is sugar which causes them to make the natives “sugar slaves”. This …show more content…
The first example chosen occurred in 1610; and is John Rolfe discovering tobacco grows very well in Virginia. During this time tobacco was viewed as a wonder drug which made it very popular and profitable; and because of this the colonist grew it everywhere. However tobacco is very land extensive, so with that the colonist needed to expand so they did. In doing so they pushed Native Americans off their land all for the greed of wealth. As they fueled their greed they expanded and were developing and settling more and more in the west. The next example if of a different form of greed and occurs in 1630. This is greed in the form of power and in a way is also a trickle down effect. In 1630 John Winthrop alters the Great Chain of Being putting himself higher than everyone other than God also making himself the closest Individual to God. This act angered many people one in particular Roger Williams. In 1634 Williams spoke out on Winthrop resulting in his banishment. After banishment Williams creates Rhode Island in 1635 it is Winthrop 's greed for power that drove Williams to settle and develop elsewhere supporting the main idea. Another example occurred in 1675 and is also the cause of King Phillips War. This instance we have settlers expanding west very quickly in order to provide for their sons, all families wanted to give their sons land upon adulthood in order to show that the were predestined for heaven. Now this is definitely not a normal form of greed as it is a greed for wanting to be in heaven, in a sense trying to see/prove that you are going to heaven if you can provide your sons with this luxury and this idea makes more developments as the quest to reach heaven is continued. This next instance is really two examples of greed at once; however only one is driving settlement. In 1679 Bacon going to Barkley and asking to be in