“Too many of us look upon Americans as dollar chasers. This is a cruel libel, even if it is reiterated thoughtlessly by the Americans themselves” Albert Einstein
“I want the world Chico and everything in it” Al Pacino (Scarface 1983)
Wealth, prosperity, resources the “New World” promised all this and more. The Europeans and the Spanish knew their intentions when setting sail, gather as much gold and land as possible. However, upon landing both soon realized there was more to be had.
Hernando Cortes came from Spain and invaded the Aztecs of Mexico in 1518. His voyage was funded by merchants and was blessed by the deputies of God with the promise of him returning with gold. When he arrived in Vera Cruz with a fleet of ships, the Aztec God, Montezuma knew there was something wrong with Cortes. Yet, the benevolent Aztecs greeted Cortes. “…he (Montezuma) sent hundreds of runners to Cortes, bearing enormous treasures, gold and silver wrought into objects of fantastic beauty…”(Zinn 11). That was all the proof Cortes needed. He began a …show more content…
Funny, that sounds a lot like the Europeans to me. Zinn writes, “Jamestown itself was set up inside the territory of an Indian confederacy…” The European settlers invaded the Indians land and set up their colonies in 1607. Chief Powhatan observed this and wrote a letter to John Smith, a plea of sorts, asking him to come in peace. Informing him of their ways and the English are welcome to enjoy the Indian way of life. Telling them if they do not cooperate then they will have to kill them. Fifteen years later the Europeans had not left, actually they had colonized in great numbers. The Indians wanted the squatters gone and tried to wipe them out completely, they killed 347 English men, women and children. The Europeans knowing they could not enslave the Indians on their own land, decided to eliminate