Sunday, September 7, 2014

Chapter 4 The Bonds of Empire

It is still really shocking to read how the British treated the Catholics. Maybe it is more shocking to me because I am Catholic, and possibly take it to heart and find it as an insult. As referring back to the previous chapter, (chapter 3), how they made Maryland a refuge for the Catholics, and now in this chapter they continue to explain the difficulties the Catholics must face. It's shocking how after making Maryland a refuge for the Catholics, now the British would not accept the Catholics to live in there colonies. It seems like the British have a strong hatred for the Catholics, because they welcome any non- British people and offer them farmland, but they exclude the Catholics. They take away their promise to them about making Maryland a place for them, it is like the Catholics do not have any place for them, and the British are making it really hard for the Catholic to live in North America.
Reading Benjamin Franklin’s statements about how the English are making these immigrants come to North American to make the new English colony, makes me wonder why the English would bring over more non-English people rather than their own people. In reality it seems like they are making a colony of non-English people. I understand it is to make money by making them servants or slaves, but I assume that when there is more non- English then English people, that the colony would lose its English values, beliefs, and even control. It makes me wonder, if a certain area of North America is populated for example by, Dutch immigrants (who they allowed to come), then wouldn't that area be controlled by the Netherlands since they are Netherlands citizens and belong to Netherlands? Wouldn't they have more control of their own citizens rather than citizens from other countries? I can understand the possible anger Benjamin Franklin had when making his statement. I completely agree with what he had said, and believe that the English were making a big mistake by making other immigrants go live in North America.

It was impressive to read how James Oglethorpe banned slavery from Georgia and his reason why. I think it was very brave to take that kind of action at the time, because it was like going against the king’s orders. Although the ban of slavery did not last long, he should still be recognized for the attempt he made for equality, because he did something that no one at the time would do or agree on. I wonder for him trying to ban slavery, if he put his life in danger because it is sort of like him supporting the slaves, and plus he insulted the whites by calling them lazy. I believe Oglethorpe made a noble decision and action by trying to ban slavery. 

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