Eric Foner, a philosopher

American History

Eric Foner, a philosopher, has elaborated on the repercussions of colonialism on the

United States of America. He contends that the colonial government’s erratic and intermittent

impacts on the American people impeded their basic rights to individual liberty and free

expression. Western culture arose from the political and intellectual revolutions that happened

throughout the colonial period. Because of social inconsistencies, political orders were

established to replace hierarchical systems of leadership. Disregard for gender, social, and racial

equality was widespread, and apparent economic and social gaps existed. Non-citizens in the

United States were granted less rights and benefits than citizens, which led to the erosion of the

rhetorical and material ties between the two groups of people.

Race

Europe has seen the people of Africa through the distorted lens of racism and racial

theory for most of the period since the 15th century, when trade, empire, and migration (both

forced and voluntary) have connected Europeans and Africans. Some of the confusion, pseudo-

science, and wild speculation that we today call racism in the United Kingdom may be traced

back to political fights waged over the slavery and slave trade.

Colonialism undoubtedly impacted the daily lives of people of all races in unique ways,

but it was also followed by noticeable shifts. Life improved for blacks, and whites relished in

their newfound status. The comparison of the two races in their minds always demonstrated that

whites were more superior to blacks. It’s usually the white people that are shown as the true

Americans. The individuals who set out to defend slavery accumulated a vast armory of new and

old statements and ideas about black people. These men then formalized, refined, and

disseminated these assertions and beliefs via written works, speeches and pamphlets.