History Essay: Analyzing Colonialism in America and its Impact

This essay analyzes James Axtell's article on the various invasions of America and their impact on the native population. It examines the 'Columbian Encounter' and the interactions between Europeans and Native Americans, highlighting the initial hostility, instances of cooperation, and the challenges faced by the native people, including sickness and cultural clashes. The essay discusses the author's perspective on the historical context of colonialism and its lasting effects, referencing movements like the American Indian Movement. The essay concludes that the article provides an accurate historical account of European arrival, the relationship between the colonizers and the Native Americans, and serves as a valuable resource for those interested in American history and the colonial period.

Running head: HISTORY
History
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1HISTORY
In the article provided to the readers, the author of the article James Axtell had talked
to the readers of the article about the various invasions of America which has been witnesses
by the native people of the America themselves. The author goes on to give an account of the
various invasions on the country of America by people from the other countries itself and the
impact those invasion had on the natives of America itself. Throughout the article itself, the
author has talked about the colonialism period of America by the various European countries
itself and how such colonialism between the countries had impacted the lives of the native
people of the country itself.
The purpose of this essay is to discuss the article that the author James Axtell
has presented to the readers themselves about the colonialism of America.
In the article itself, the readers get the idea that the author of the article James Axtell
has talked to the readers about the various invaders who had come to the country of America
in the past and how such colonialism had impacted the lives of the native people who were
the actual residents of the country of America itself. The author draws on the examples of the
various movements of the present times like that of the American Indian Movement, the rise
of the Black Movement in the country to explain how such movements started in to the
country itself and how all these movements are related to the situation of the colonialisms of
the past itself to the readers of the article itself (Axtell,1992).
The readers are provided with a basic idea of the discovery of the continent of
America which was made by Christopher Columbus in the year of 1492. The term is referred
to by the author as the “Columbian Encounter” in the article itself so that the people would be
better be able to realize the way in which the two different civilizations of America as well as
that of the Europe came together in the country of America itself (Axtell, 1992). From there,
the author goes on to state the various meetings of the Africans as well as the Europeans in

2HISTORY
the country of America itself, and how each party reacted to the presence of the other on the
island itself. The author gives the opinion that the initial interactions between the tribes and
the native people of the island of America were hostile to each other, with neither party ready
to accept the other into their land itself (Axtell, 1992). The author in the article itself goes on
to state the various ways in which the American Indians had always struggled with the
invaders to maintain their identity in the area itself. The readers get to know the Europeans at
first had to be mild mannered with the natives of the place itself because of the danger of
being in an unknown area themselves (Axtell, 1992). The readers get the idea that the natives
of the country were not always harmful to the Europeans and vice versa. There were times
when both the parties used to help each other out in terms of their needs. Sickness among the
natives was another problem which the author has highlighted in the article itself. It is said by
the author in the article itself that the foods of the Europeans did not suit the native people of
the country as a result of which the natives of the country fell ill (Axtell, 1992). All these
information about the various interactions and the relationship between the natives and the
Europeans have been mentioned by the author in the article itself.
The readers are of the opinion that the article was written by the author to help the
readers in understanding the relationship which the Native Americans shared with those of
the European colonialists who had arrived at the country at that time. The article serves as a
sort of history for those people who are interested in the history of America as well as for
many Americans themselves too. It is mainly for these reasons that the article was written by
the author himself (Axtell, 1992).
From the above discussions, it can be concluded that the author James Axtell had
indeed presented an accurate history of the arrival of the Europeans into the country of
America and the relationship which they shared with the Native Americans in the country

3HISTORY
during that time itself. Thus, the article would serve as a piece of history for the people
interested about the history of America as well as the colonialization of the country itself.

4HISTORY
Reference List
Axtell, J. (1992). Beyond 1492: encounters in colonial North America. Oxford University
Press.
Axtell, J. (1992). Beyond 1492: encounters in colonial North America. Oxford University
Press.
Axtell, J. (2001). Natives and newcomers: the cultural origins of North America. Oxford
University Press, USA.