Colonial Period

The time period for which the colonial period lasted in America is debatable. Some would say it started when Christopher Columbus discovered America and ended when the Treaty of Paris was signed, however in this essay the colonial period started with the founding of Jamestown (1607) and ended when the Declaration of Independence was signed (1776). During this time period Native American culture was being tampered with, and two very different forms of government, puritanism and rationalism, were being established
Native American culture was around before America was even discovered in 1492, and since then it has only lost its originality. Before colonists came to America Native Americans could live in peace and focus only on their own traditions

There were two main ways of governing in this new America and they were polar opposites of each other. The Puritans, that came to America to escape prosecution from the European government, kept the same form of government they had had in Europe. It involved strict guidelines that were in place to keep the community on track to please their God. Punishments were severe for anyone who spoke out their own opinions or committed sins. On the other end of the spectrum there were Rationalists who believed that governing with reason was the best way to go. They focused on life on Earth, rather than bettering themselves to please a god. The current democracy that is in place in America, although it is much more similar to rationalism than puritanism, hold traits from both governments that could be seen in colonist America. The colonial time period in America was a rather long time period lasting from when the first colony was established in 1607 and ended with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And during this time period Native American culture was being tampered with, and two very different forms of government, puritanism and rationalism, were being