Text | Lanzi Ji
Ed Lanzi Ji
While we know a lot about the United States, have we ever thought about the frightening and turbulent periods of its history?
There are also political strife and territorial expansion in the process of growing up with continuous wars.
Perhaps, we only scratch the surface of these historical periods.
However, words cannot fully express the magnificence and grandeur of those historical events, perhaps with the help of concrete historical paintings and maps, we can deeply analyze and interpret that complex era.
We will use the mission area of California in 1769 as a starting point, combined with a series of important historical maps provided by historians, to provide an in-depth look at the multicultural integration and political conflicts and expansion dynamics of the United States at that time.
Mission District of California, 1769-1848
At the beginning of the 17th century, the great geographical discovery movement, which mankind is proud of, was in full swing.
In the course of this grand voyage of discovery, a prominent Jesuit in Spain proved that California is not an isolated island, but a prosperous and rich continent.
Since then, European immigrants have poured into this strange land, starting the legend of their lives.
However, their invasion is not just about simple resource plundering, the driving force behind them stems from deeper religious beliefs.
In the long history, the technology and knowledge that have benefited people's lives have not only come from the hard work of farmers and the wisdom of craftsmen, but more often than not, the grace of God is the key to people's survival.
In 1709, when the Spanish government incorporated California into the empire, they did not simply expand their territory, but more importantly defended God's rights and interests against the contamination of religious beliefs by British heresy.
Time flies, and today, human beings can no longer measure everything with money alone.
In 1798, Los Angeles was built to spread the gospel and build the city.
Regrettably, however, in 1833, the Mexican people, having gained independence with firm convictions, decisively withdrew the Church's jurisdiction over the mission.
The pain and suffering of this period is vivid, as was the brutal war between the United States and Mexico in 1848, which forced countless Native Americans to leave, and their native habitats eventually became colonies of American soldiers and farmers.
Battle of Queen Anne, 1702-1713
In 1702, Britain joined the Grand League in Europe against France and Spain.
For more than two decades or so, Britain fought through storms and eventually won the war.
First, the dispute between England and Spain.
In South America, British soldiers and local Indian warriors destroyed 13 of the 14 religious missions established by the Spanish in a thunderous force.
As if symbolizing the destruction of sacred beliefs, it also heralded the collapse of the colonial structure of the old world.
Although France's sphere of influence was not involved, this move undoubtedly foreshadowed a future conflict with France, and had a far-reaching impact on Britain's position in the global political landscape.
However, the war in North America presents a very different picture.
As a result of France's alliance with the local indigenous peoples, its territory was severely damaged.
Against this backdrop, Britain was able to draw on its strength and wisdom to include resource-rich areas such as the islands of Newfoundland, Arcadia and Hudson Bay by signing the crucial Utrecht Accords with its enemies.
This achievement not only added weight to the balance of power between Britain and France, but also laid a solid foundation for Britain's further expansion in North America.
The British conquest of Canada in 1758-1763
In the middle of the 18th century, tensions between England and France, the two great powers of Europe, reached a fever pitch.
One of the most famous and far-reaching events was Lake Erie in 1758.
This conflict, which is crucial to the fate of the country, did not break out suddenly, but was the result of a long period of deliberation and pre-planning.
William Pitt, then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who was later awarded the Lord Chatham Honour, contributed wisdom to the war effort.
He decisively adopted a series of tactics and successfully planned and executed an offensive against the French army.
Finally, after years of war, on September 8, 1760, the "French Request for an Armistice" finally declared the end of the confrontation.
This victory not only gave the exhausted British army a short rest, but also paved the way for the international landscape for decades to come.
And the price behind this victory is also heavy.
Through the Treaty of Paris in 1763, France relinquished its rights to large tracts of land that spanned all of North America to British Columbia, and returned everything to the British on the island of Acadia, which had been in Napoleon's hands.
In addition, it voluntarily renounced all territorial claims to Canada and the area east of the Mississippi River (with the exception of New Orleans, a World Heritage Site).
The achievements of this campaign were not only at the military level, but also had a profound impact on the subsequent economic and cultural exchanges and the well-being of the people.
For the losing side of this battle, the French, although they signed the peace treaty with humiliation and reluctance, still preserved their precious wealth - rich natural resources.
To make up for the lost benefits, Spain chose to trade with the British.
Thus, history dramatically made Cuba in exchange for the rich land of Florida.
The Triangular Trade of 1752
The triangular trade that took place in the Atlantic Ocean in 1752 had a profound impact not only on the commercial and economic levels, but more importantly, on the early form of globalization and the pace of evolution of human society and civilization.
In this process, the trading vessel "Sanderson" played a key role.
As a ship of great historical significance, the Sanderson sailed from Westheimers, Rhode Island, USA, in March of that year and began a long voyage of 14 months.
In total, the fleet has traversed more than 100,000 miles of sea since the day of departure, and has achieved fruitful commercial results.
Along the way, they unearthed a steady stream of commodities and brought plenty of wealth and resources to the European market.
As you can see from the map, the long-standing triangular trade routes crisscross the continent and form a vast maritime trade network.
The specific content of this vast trading system includes the exchange of rich and diverse resources, such as African slaves, Brazilian timber, Jamaican sugar, etc.;
At the same time, it also covers a series of tedious transportation processes - procurement, loading, transportation to sales, etc.
This organic system is like a long and moving history of cultural exchange, showing the greed and thirst of Europeans for the rich resources of their colonies and the hardships and sorrows of the peoples of other continents.
War of Independence of 1775-1783
The war between 1775 and 1783 in North America was a major event in human history.
The war not only had a profound impact on the American continent, but also brought about a dramatic change in the global political landscape.
In April 1775, the colonies of North America began a massive resistance movement against British rule.
With the passage of time, the people of all ethnic groups have joined the battle one after another, and their strength has grown stronger and their confidence has become stronger.
Then, in June of the same year, George Washington, the founding father of the United States, was officially appointed as the supreme commander of the Colonial Armed Forces.
He watched the brave sons and daughters of North America bravely face the British army, and expressed their desire and determination for freedom and democracy with resolute patriotic feelings.
July 4, 1776, was immortalized when the North American states signed the Declaration of Independence.
This document announced to the world that the North American colonies had become an entirely new nation that had become independent from British rule.
It symbolizes the determination and courage of the people of North America, as well as their passionate yearning for freedom and creativity.
Proposal for borders of 1779-1782
In addressing the issue of historical territorial boundaries, it is impossible to ignore proposals that have a remarkable impact and far-reaching impact.
Especially in the context of the time, these proposals not only show the trade-offs and games between countries, but also reveal the subtle changes in national interests in the course of history.
In 1782, Benjamin Franklin proposed to cede Canada to the United States.
Another equally thought-provoking proposal was the French's proposal to place the area north of the Ohio River under British rule.
This period coincided with the rise of the European powers and fierce competition for supremacy, a proposal that did not materialize, but hinted at a delicate relationship and a complex game between Britain and France.
Then there is Spain's claim to colonization of Florida.
Between 1763 and 1783, Florida was under British colonial rule.
However, as British power declined and Spain's power rose, Britain was forced to return the region to Spain in 1783 after the Western powers redivided their spheres of influence.
Ratification of the Federal Constitution of 1787-1790
As we all know, there was a pivotal period in the history of the American political scene, that is, the process of drafting and ratifying the U.S. federal constitution from 1787 to 1790.
This period of history is an important milestone in the history of American politics, especially on May 25, 1787, when the Continental Congress of Philadelphia was held, marking the official start of the event.
At this meeting, the delegates conducted an in-depth and comprehensive study and discussion of the U.S. Constitution, which lasted nearly four months.
With the unremitting efforts of everyone, they finally reached a consensus on September 17, which was undoubtedly a phased victory.
However, despite this, the ratification of the constitution faced great difficulties in the following months.
Because of the large number of people who disagreed and even resisted the federal system, the date of ratification of the constitution was not uniform among the states, and some states even delayed the completion of the certification process until the 1790s.
epilogue
In the vast river of time, the map is like a moon boat surging with the traces of civilization and history, vividly showing the unique cultural charm of each region and the glorious course of social evolution.
The rise and fall of the United States in the past is like the epitome of a brilliant and magnificent picture of civilization.
Looking forward to the new chapter, we should base ourselves on the present and stride towards a better future. However, it must be borne in mind that the majesty of history cannot be despised and its teachings must not be forgotten.
Only by standing on the greatness of the past at this moment can we move forward better and move towards a hopeful future.
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