The Implications of Race and Gender in American History American history up to 1860 was driven by the forces of race and gender. Race and gender were the two most important factors that shaped America; they molded the structure and the foundations of America. Religion inferred in race and gender and gave meaning to those terms. Furthermore, the notions of race and gender drastically changed the cultural and social interactions of Americans. Lastly, race and gender determined property ownership among American citizens. These two terms alone had a great influence, an influence that gave America its essence.
Religion was a fundamental key that inferred race and gender in early America society. Europeans based their beliefs about the creation …show more content…
The lack of European women in the colonies was the reason that it was so difficult for men to find a woman to marry, since there were only indigenous women who were not converted to Christianity. For example, the dilemma that Rolfe encountered when he wanted to marry an “unconverted creature, namely Pocahontas.” (Prep 4, 2) Rolfe declared that it was his job to “labor in the Lord’s vineyard, there to sow and plant, to nourish and increase the fruits thereof.” (Prep 4, 2) It was his job to spread the word of God to others; therefore, bringing them to the paths of God. Pocahontas was an Indian, so she did not belonged to Rolfe’s race; therefore, she did not know anything about the European religion. But Pocahontas had a “desire to be taught and instructed in the knowledge of God,” (Prep 4, 2) which weighed more than the fact that she was an Indian. Religion could see pass through race. All races were welcome to the paths of God; for Rolfe race was not an impediment to bring people to God. Rolfe’s impediment to marry Pocahontas was not that she was an Indian it was that she was not a Christian. Religion, in this case Christianity, covered up all the traits of race that differentiated people, and brought them together in union. Such was the case in the Middle colonies that “there [might have] well [been] four or five hundred men of different sects [religious groups] and nations.” (Prep 5, 4) Different religions and races came together to share the land and a dream to prosper together on those lands. However, the new interactions created problems that affected the social and cultural
Religion was a fundamental key that inferred race and gender in early America society. Europeans based their beliefs about the creation …show more content…
The lack of European women in the colonies was the reason that it was so difficult for men to find a woman to marry, since there were only indigenous women who were not converted to Christianity. For example, the dilemma that Rolfe encountered when he wanted to marry an “unconverted creature, namely Pocahontas.” (Prep 4, 2) Rolfe declared that it was his job to “labor in the Lord’s vineyard, there to sow and plant, to nourish and increase the fruits thereof.” (Prep 4, 2) It was his job to spread the word of God to others; therefore, bringing them to the paths of God. Pocahontas was an Indian, so she did not belonged to Rolfe’s race; therefore, she did not know anything about the European religion. But Pocahontas had a “desire to be taught and instructed in the knowledge of God,” (Prep 4, 2) which weighed more than the fact that she was an Indian. Religion could see pass through race. All races were welcome to the paths of God; for Rolfe race was not an impediment to bring people to God. Rolfe’s impediment to marry Pocahontas was not that she was an Indian it was that she was not a Christian. Religion, in this case Christianity, covered up all the traits of race that differentiated people, and brought them together in union. Such was the case in the Middle colonies that “there [might have] well [been] four or five hundred men of different sects [religious groups] and nations.” (Prep 5, 4) Different religions and races came together to share the land and a dream to prosper together on those lands. However, the new interactions created problems that affected the social and cultural