The basic conflict that caused Europeans to emigrate to what became the United States is still with us today. It has been with us always and defined us as a nation and society. At its core, it is based on the exploitation of others. We band together in groups to leverage our capacity to exploit. Over time and with new communication technologies, we have banded together virtually in echo chambers.
Our history of exploitation.
- European powers sent explorers to discover exploitable resources in other lands.
- Colonists followed to exploit the lands, indigenous plants, animal and people.
- The colonists soon discovered they need more people to exploit the abundant natural resources so they began importing slaves from Africa in 1619.
- By the 1770s Britain was engaged in a movement to abolish slavery. Consequently, the ruling elite slave owners in the colonies declared their independence from Britain so they could keep their slaves.
- After protracted debates it was finally agreed that government under the U.S. Constitution would begin on March 4, 1789.