Pilgrim Vs. Yossarian Essay
The decades making up colonial America were times of political, economic, and cultural development for the advancing country the United States of America. Influences from native populations, Great Britain, and religion shaped the colonies into the foundation of a now great nation. In the English colonies during the period of the 17th and early 18th centuries, major causes to incite unity in colonies were the similar fear of external enemies and desire for success in and amongst the colonies, while some different motives to confederate existed such as reinforcing ties with Great Britain, or desire to spread religion.
The two most prominent factors that caused the different colonies to attempt to coexist were threats from adversaries, either within or outside the community, and will to create and maintain successful colonies. Many documents support that organization was vital to the life and outcome of a colony. The Mayflower Compact was written in response to factions arising in the populace of the Mayflower. The document stresses that unity is the key to their survival and states that they needed to work jointly to govern the settlement, “for the general good of the colony.” Additionally, William Penn’s, Plan of Union, declares that colonies should also unionize with one another, not just the members of an individual settlement. This document emphasizes that representatives from each colony should meet at minimum once a year to facilitate problems and keep the colonies peaceful, so that they may be functional. In 1754, the Albany Plan attempted to formally unite the colonies under a single government so that they can themselves address and handle problems. The author(s) of this document wished to do this so they could pass their own laws, taxes, etc. because they knew what was fair and just and how to benefit the colonies. With a different tone, the Join, or Die drawing includes a sense of urgency in the campaign for colonial unity. The phrase “join, or die” is not so much a threat as it is a warning. The author meant to convey that the confederation of the colonies was vital not only to the success of the New World, but also to the existence of the future states. It also suggests that, alone, the colonies were like the pieces of a dead snake, useless, but if they were to be put together, they would become powerful and strong resulting in widespread success. These documents and photo all stress that unity in the English colonies was a direct result of the aspiration for the New World to be successful and beneficial to those who lived there.
Another extremely prominent influence was the lurking threat of the Native Americans up to the time