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== Why America? ==

== Why America? ==

Using common sense and your imagination can serve you very well in mastering American history.  Pause for a moment and predict what would likely happen to a nice chunk of fertile land, possibly containing riches like gold, located between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.  Would some Europeans want to go there?  Which ones would want to go there, and why?

Your common sense and imagination can help you master American history.  Pause for a moment and imagine what would likely happen to a nice chunk of fertile land, possibly containing riches like gold, located between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.  Would some Europeans want to go there? Of course. Which ones would want to go there, and why?

One reason is to convert the natives to Christianity, just as homeschool families today often go on missionary trips to distant lands.  Another reason is to search for gold and other riches.  A third reason is to obtain freedom.  Another reason is for the same reason people climb mountains:  because they are there!  Some want to escape where they are.  Others want to set up a new community, perhaps a new religious environment.  Others hope to meet new people and make new friends, engage in the trade of goods with the people.  Another motivation is to learn from the new people, or have adventures and then write about them.

One reason is to convert the natives to Christianity, just as homeschool families today often go on missionary trips to distant lands.  Another reason is to search for gold and other riches.  A third reason is to obtain freedom.  Another reason is for the same reason people climb a mountain:  because it is there!  Some want to escape where they are.  Others want to set up a new community, perhaps a new religious environment.  Others hope to meet new people and make new friends, and engage in the trade of goods with the people.  Another motivation is to learn from the new people, or have adventures and then write about them.

What is likely to happen if a bunch of Europeans go to this land? There will be  conflict: conflicts with the natives, conflicts with other European countries, and conflicts with the mother country that sent the settlers.  But there will also be new opportunities for improvements, for new products, for new businesses, for new religions, for new systems of government.

What is likely to happen if a bunch of Europeans go to this land? There will be  conflict: conflicts with the natives, conflicts with other European countries, and conflicts with the mother country that sent the settlers.  But there will also be new opportunities for improvements, for new products, for new businesses, for new religions and for new systems of government.

Who is going to pay for exploration and settlement?  Kings.  Investors.  Do-gooders.  Churches.  Mostly nobody.

Who is going to pay for exploration and settlement?  Kings.  Investors.  Do-gooders.  Churches.  Mostly nobody.

Who is going to do the hard labor needed to set up a new community, such as chopping down trees, working the farms, constructing the buildings?  There is almost no money to pay anyone for the work.  Families might do some, but before long slavery develops as a form of labor.  Another form of labor less objectionable than slavery wa the use of [[indentured servants]], who were people who promised to work for free for seven (7) years in exchange for free transportation to the New World, free food and housing while there, and complete freedom (and maybe some land) after seven years.

Who is going to do the hard labor needed to set up a new community, such as chopping down trees, working the farms, and constructing the buildings?  There was almost no money to pay anyone for the work.  Families might do some, but many of the families consisted of young children.  Pretty soon slavery developed as a form of labor, particularly in less religious settlements.  Another form of labor less objectionable than slavery was the use of [[indentured servants]].  They were workers who promised to work for free for seven (7) years in exchange for free transportation to the New World, free food and housing while there, and complete freedom (and maybe some land) after the end of the seven (7) years.

In learning history, it helps to look for unifying themes to organize events in your mind.  One theme that helps explain American history well is the overall expansion of Christianity, for 2000 years.  Why did [[Christopher Columbus]] and other explorers risk their lives to come to the New World?  To spread Christianity.  Why did families then risk their lives to settle here?  To establish religious communities free of persecution.  Two hundred years later, why did Massachusetts prohibit slavery and why did abolitionists President [[John Quincy Adams]] devote their lives to ending slavery?  One reason is because their religious values told them slavery was wrong.

In learning history, it helps to look for unifying themes to organize events in your mind.  One theme that helps explain American history well is the overall expansion of Christianity for 2000 years.  Why did [[Christopher Columbus]] and other explorers risk their lives to come to the New World?  To spread Christianity.  Why did families then risk their lives to settle here?  To establish religious communities free of persecution.  Two hundred years later, why did Massachusetts prohibit slavery and why did abolitionists President [[John Quincy Adams]] devote their lives to ending slavery?  Their religious values told them slavery was wrong.

There are other possible themes also.  How about the desire to make more money, or make some money?  How about the urge for self-government, to be in charge of oneself free from a monarchy?  How about the advance of technology and its affect on how we live?  There are many possible themes to American history and we will have fun debates about them.

There are other possible themes also.  How about the desire to make more money?  How about the urge for self-government, to be in charge of oneself free from a monarchy?  How about the advance of technology and its affect on how we live?  There are many possible themes to American history and we will have fun debates about them.

== Organizing History ==

== Organizing History ==