American Tradition For Independence Essay

The concept of self-reliance is of a certain reputation to American democracy. Independence of the mind has led to the shaping of mentality of the first inhabitants challenged with the aggression of harsh conditions and external forces of the new world. As argued, self-reliance has come as a result of one’s lifestyle and common experience thus forming the core of the society which based its actions on the social, cultural, economic, or political force.
The unhealthy life of America enhanced the development of self-reliant minds among the American colonists. It is because life in America, specifically areas that were inhabited by the Chesapeake settlers, had wild conditions. It entailed staying in the wilderness that was nasty, short, and brutish. Many of the colonists tried so hard to overcome diseases like malaria, typhoid, and dysentery that took a harsh toll to the individuals in the area. These conditions cut off the life expectancy of the novices. The diseases killed the nature of dependency among families and created self-reliance since majority lived on their own due to death of their spouses. Either, the colonists managed to acquire immunity despite the hardships that they underwent. That experience instilled the independence among the colonists.
An increasing divergence of interests, linked to self-confidence and local strength led to the building of the independent minds in America. There were significant economic curbs enacted that conflicted the instinctive ambitions of merchants. The curbs had adverse effects to the colonists thereby acting as a source of grievance since it inflicted a sense of irrationality and arbitraries among the settlers. The curb situation led to the introduction of a ‘Salutary Neglect’ system where there was the negligence of the concrete enforcement of external economic relations. The system enhanced freedom and self-reliance thereby improving the economic and commerce situation among the colonists.
Colonists’ conscious participation in the native political life of their colonies also built the sense of self-independence. Majority of the colonists actively participated either as elected representatives or electors. Their development of an active sense of distinction from the grand judicial system was as a result of their participation. Either, the emergence of colonial legislators preordained that the colonies were free of the crown. It further meant that representatives were now authorized to pass laws, levy taxes, and muster troops. These privileges further made more powers in the hand of the colonists. More powers enhanced a self-reliant attitude among the individuals.
The social issue of geographical considerations ensured independence of thoughts among the colonists. It is because the detachment of the colony from Great Britain created a strong independence that was difficult to overwhelm. This detachment ensured that those having a strong desire to develop new opportunities and freedom by exploiting their ideologies that entailed strong independent streaks.
The American colonist culture entailed the establishment of churches for religious purposes. The established churches enhanced religious upheavals during the sixteenth and seventeenth century. Individuals came up with ideas that announced a new formula for membership in churches. They also introduced new ideas to establish churches that had different ideologies from the original churches. The freedom to exercise their religious wants gave them the ability to think and exercise their actions independently thus building a society based on self-reliance.
In conclusion, it is evident that the American colonists built their social characters based on self-reliance or independence. Their political, economic, social, and cultural experiences instilled a desire of individuals doing their things in relation to their ideologies.