Living the American Dream
The expansion of Europe lead to the formation of colonies. Perhaps the most prominent of these colonies in relationship to economic opportunity is America. As individuals escaping the political turmoil and religious dispute afflicting Europe arrived in the Americas, they were presented by an array of unparalleled opportunities for them to enrich themselves. These included forming businesses that would help drive the new-formed economy and plantations exploiting the cheap Native American and potentially African labor.
America was replete with land filched from the Native Americans. Accompanying the European individuals emigrating from Europe, were many vicious, foreign diseases that would gradually lead to the decline in their population. Their strength was diluted, for they were vulnerable.
Atop this land did Europeans form plantations, enforcing these Native Americans to work on them. Also, as there was a shortage of Native Americans to work on these plantations, the amount of plantations formed were not able to facilitate Europe with its demand. Therefore, in order to inhibit the formation of an amount of plantations that would facilitate Europe with its demand, these Native Americans were replaced by African labor.
There are numerous reasons why forming plantations was a lucrative business. First and foremost, the lands of America were rife with land sufficient to grow crops such as sugar and cotton. These crops were highly demanded in Europe, therefore it was profitable to trade and supply the Europeans with these crops. Moreover, According to Jonathan Weiner, plantation owners were able to own at least 10,000 dollars worth of real estate. This was a significant amount in those times. (Wiener).
Moreover, as individuals emigrated to the Americas and the population expanded, there was a need for a stable economy. This requires businesses that provide society with the resources and services they need in order to survive, as well as the jobs that these individuals in society need in order to maintain an income.
For there were many businesses one could establish, such as shops that imported food, drinks and furniture or ports to which imported materials would arrive and exported materials would depart. Also, forming and owning a business required individuals who would work within these businesses! One could work on a plantation, work in a shop or work in a port, for they did not have to be the owner.
Whether it is owning or working, opportunities for business and employment, wonderful, enticing economic benefits were made available to those who emigrated to America. Above all of these denominations, however, stood the opportunity for a new life. This was not the same, tedious European life which their ancestors lived, for it was the life of the new world, it was the life of dreams– the American dream.