The Role of Ideals and Self-Interest in the History of America :: American America History

The Role of Ideals and egocentrism in the History of AmericaThroughout history, beginning when pointtlers first arrived in America, every event that took place became part of American history. Ideals, as expound by Dr. Margolies, History Professor at Virginia Wesleyan College, are motivating, proud goals. Some of these ideals, which shaped American history, included life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as protected by the Constitution. Self-interest, a second influential factor in American history, is shown by the gaining of benefits for oneself. Although it is debatable which of these two influential factors was more plethoric in American history, the possibility arises that they coincide with one an new(prenominal) revealed by legion(predicate) documented events.Self-interest can be seen in many of the writings throughout American history. The mercantile system, as exhibited by the British on the colonies, was an extremely hedonistic approach to gaining wealth for themselves. Mercantilism, as set forth by the Navigation Acts, imposed strict and extremely descriptive laws that would limit and exploit trade in the colonies, allowing Britain to control the wealth and shekels of materials and goods in America. These acts were used to keep America from trading with any other countries. As stated in the Navigation Act of 1660, no goods or commodities whatsoever shall be imported into or exported out of any lands to his stateliness belongingin any other ship or ships...as do truly and without fraud belong only to the people of England or Ireland (Restoration 98). Britain knew that by controlling the colonies in this manner they could take the raw materials out and rat the finished products back, and by doing so they would profit greatly. This mercantile system exemplifies the authoritative minds of the British while America was developing. This system would soon become a failure due to the peoples demands to have representation along wit h taxation, and their desire to detach from England as a free and independent state. Likewise, it was due to self-interest of the avaricious planters and the self righteous farmers in the south that slavery was highly used. At that time they needed all the labor they could get, and the cheapest way to obtain it was through the purchase of slaves. Some of the slavery was downplayed by calling it indentured servitude, where servants were essentially slaves for a limited number of years.