American History to 1877

American History to 1877
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Question 1
Mercantilism is a term that was used in 1763 by a man named Marquis de Mirabeau. Mercantilism was intended to make certain countries such as England, Great Britain, and other countries to acquire colonies and therefore amass economic strength. Such a country would have needed to export more than it imported which meant that the country would have a favorable balance of trade. A country with limited resources such as England could obtain colonies and therefore use them to supply with reliable raw materials. The colonies were established so that certain countries could take advantage of them to provide the materials they could not produce. They were to help the mother countries attain a favorable balance of trade (Henretta, 2012).
Colonies supplied various products including tobacco, grain, and sugar. They also provided natural resources that could not be found in the mother countries. Such resources such as lumber were extremely valuable and were limited in the British market. The colonies were also used a good marketplace for British and other mother countries products. Britain, England, and others took raw materials from colonies and converted them to finished goods after which the goods were sold back to the colonies at a very high cost. However, when colonies began to trade with other countries around the world, various trade restrictions were placed to prevent the colonies reaching a level of the mother countries (Geise, 1992).

The mercantilism system wanted to ensure that the colonies did not compete in any way with the mother country and therefore they could not export similar products like those sold by the mother countries. The colonies were not even allowed to export directly to other countries but rather their products needed to pass through England and Britain first so that the mother countries could benefit more when exporting the products. The colonies were therefore expected to import and not make their products. Colonies were therefore used in making the mother countries export more and also buy those countries products. This tactic helped Britain and other countries to accumulate a lot of wealth (Geise, 1992).
Question 2
The constitution was a very controversial document even as it was being written since each section had to be written. The drafts were to be debated, re-written and argued for another time. The constitution, therefore, had to be changed for many, and it is still amended event currently. It is not a perfect document, and that is why it is amended continuously to ensure justice prevails in the society. Legislators and other lawmakers did not agree on the laws, and that is why they had to argue and talk over and over so that they could agree. There were people who were opposed to the bill of rights being part of the new constitution (Henretta, 2012).
The constitution is changed once in a while to ensure that it suits the lives of the US and where it want to be in the future. When it was being written, some states believed that their sizes ought to have been felt in their roles in the constitution. The states sought to have an equal ratio of power distribution between them as well as the colonists. Some were opposed to having slaves as well as the roles that they should play. The constitution was controversial since the advocates had very different ideas that were conflicting. The advocates thought that the constitution was meant to extend the ideas of the Republicans (Henretta, 2012).
Critics were opposed to the idea and thought that the Republicans worked in trivial political groups. Some of the most controversial issues include the division of power between the central and the state governments. The issue of the two party system was another controversial issue that attracted the ideas of many influential and powerful leaders. There were many interests of multiple people that could not be reconciled without controversy since most of them could have wanted their interests to be accomplished by the constitution but it was not possible. The constitution is controversial even today since people have different ideas and the amendments are not welcomed to all.
Question 3
The Protestant Christianity, as well as the Protestant women, emerged as forces for the social change due to the activities that they were undertaking. The revival meetings that were being held by the church people was urging them to be more religious. Women showed active participation in the social change by taking part in the preaching and writing of the sermons. The sermons that were being written by women were done weekly and gave the women the mandate of taking care of the family as well as making sure that they remained faithful to men. They emphasized that unity was an important virtue. The active participation in these activities gave women a voice to be heard (Geise, 1992).
The Protestant Christianity and Protestant women became forces for change as a result of the number of people having to join as well as cooperating with each other in religious activities such as Bible studies and prayer meetings. The war that had occurred left many families without men. As a result, the women in society were given the responsibility of undertaking all the roles that were carried out by the male counterparts. The changes made the women acceptable in participating in political matters. Women became more outspoken because of the shift in the responsibility that had occurred, and the society was supportive thus accepting the ideas and views of the women (Henretta, 2012).
The women became a force for social change because they had more time to participate in various activities as a result of the advancements in technology that had taken place. Social and the technological migration is an issue that encouraged women to take part in the changes that were taking place in the community. The affiliation of many women to Protestant church was a breakthrough because the church was not regulated the Pope and no male hierarchy would force them to adhere to strict demands. The technological advancements that came as a result of the industrial revolution gave an opportunity for women in society to choose to work e away from their homes.
Question 4
Various changes characterized the slavery system and plantation of the crops in 1800 and 1860. The industrial revolution is viewed as one of the major cause of these changes that had taken place during this period. The introduction of the machines to the tasks that were handmade was one of the major characteristics of the industrial revolution. The textile industry became advanced, and the introduction of various power tools increased the level of production in the industry. This act of introducing machines in the industry was one of the major changes that had taken place during this period. The textile industry becomes leading industries in the with the increase in efficiency and productivity (Geise, 1992).
The other change that had taken place in during this period was robust changes that had occurred in the economy of the US. The planting of cotton became popular because the cotton produced was of high quality and the demand for the cotton was on the rise in the European market. The cotton became the major cash crop because it was profitable than the other crops. Other farmers migrated to the Southern cotton belt which had become viable for the production of cotton in the US. The changes made the south the most reliable and desirable place for the production of quality cotton (Henretta, 2012).
The invention that took the place of the cotton gin by the Eli Whitney was one of the changes that took place during this period making it possible for the cotton to one of the principle plantation crop. The machine continued to dominate the southern economy after the slavery had ended in 1865. Additionally, by 1860, over one million African Americans were brought to region referred to as the New South. The regime of the slavery increased and the slave masters had become harsh in the way they treated the slaves. The issue of slave resistance increased during this period. The slaves started rebelling despite the whites giving justification to what had been happening to the slaves.
References
Geise, R. D. (1992). American history to 1877. Barron’s Educational Series.
Henretta, J. A. (2012). America: A Concise History, Volume Two: Since 1865 (Vol. Vol. 2). Macmillan.