Assimilation is the process where individuals or groups adopt the customs, values, and behaviors of a dominant culture, often at the expense of their own cultural heritage. It can be voluntary or involuntary and is influenced by various factors, such as social, economic, or political pressures. In essence, it's about becoming similar to something else, like immigrants learning a new language and customs in their new country.
Ancient Empires who fought wars to expand their governance were acutely aware of the dangers of converting conquered people. Some would kill the population to prevent opposition. Some would attempt to assimilate the population to become supportive of their new rulers. The Roman Empire enslaved the conquered population. African Kingdoms sold their slaves to provide slave labor for agricultural production in the new American Continent.
The discovery of the American Continent was funded by Spain to find a shorter sea route to Asia. It failed. When they found out it was a completely new continent with native inhabitants, they had an excuse to stay and convert the natives to Christianity. The Assimilation they sought was reduced by disease and was difficult.
The US was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. Assimilation of Europeans to the US was easy.
European Christians were welcome to the Colonies that formed in the 1600s. The Protestant Reformation in the 1500s resulted in a split in Christianity into Catholic v Protestant. Protestant England was forcing assimilation and the early settlements in North America. Early settlements in the 1600s began with Religious Denominations that were being persecuted in England.
In South America, Spanish and Portuguese settlements remained Catholic and native populations were being converted to Catholicism. North American French colonies were populated by French Catholics.
They came to escape Europe where the Monarchy owned all the farmland. The French held their territory to conduct fir trading and did not attempt to occupy American Indian territory. The French lost the Ohio territory to the British in 1775 and sold the Louisiana territory to the US in 1802.
Assimilation of Native Americans was not easy. Their culture supported Tribal occupation of land by force. They rejected the private property rights the Europeans were demanding. When Europeans began to arrive in large numbers, the Tribes attacked the European settlers. The Indian Wars lasted for 384 years from 1540 to 1924 and moved from East to West as settlers gained control with the help of the US Cavalry.
Assimilation of African Slaves was not easy. Their culture supported Tribal customs. They lived in Tribal villages and were free to provide their own food and shelter. Slavery was adopted by conquering African Kings who sold their conquered people to add wealth, avoid retribution and ensure assimilation.
The first slaves to arrive in the American colonies were primarily African, specifically from the Kingdom of Ndongo in present-day Angola. In 1619, a Dutch ship brought approximately 20 enslaved Africans to Point Comfort in Virginia. These Africans were among 350 transported to Spain's New World colonies. The ship was the White Lion, and these Africans were traded for supplies.
In the US, the Northern States allowed former slaves to own land. They fought in the Revolutionary War and in the Civil War. Many were allowed to become free and bought their own farmland.
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863. This proclamation declared that all slaves in Confederate states would be freed.
The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified on July 9, 1868. It was passed by Congress on June 13, 1866, and became part of the Constitution after three-fourths of the states ratified. This Amendment allowed former slaves to become US citizens.
Slavery ended in the US after 249 years from 1619 to 1868 and Black American have Assimilated.
In 1848, Karl Marx published his Communist Manifesto and created a separation in cultures.
Karl Marx's theory, known as Marxism, is a critique of capitalism, arguing it leads to class conflict and exploitation. He proposed a revolutionary path towards a classless, socialist society where the means of production are owned collectively. Central to his theory is the concept of historical materialism, which views history as driven by material conditions and class struggles.
A very basic principle of the Marxist theory is the theory of class division of society and class struggle. According to it, each society has the oppressors and the oppressed and the oppressed are eventually bound to revolt and build a new society and economy.
Marxism led to division in the cultures of several countries. The Russians were the first to adopt Communism in 1923.
After the Russian Civil War (1917–1923), the Bolsheviks took control. They were dedicated to a version of Marxism developed by Vladimir Lenin. It promised the workers would rise, destroy capitalism, and create a socialist society under the leadership of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Communism failed in 1989 and Russia established the Russian Republic that allowed private property and established a Private Sector Economy.
Marxism began to spread in 1945 after World War II. The Soviet Union refused to withdraw from Eastern Europe and the Satellite Countries fell under Communist Control in 1945. Vietnam and North Korea became Communist in 1945. China became Communist in 1949.
In 1978 Iran became the Islamic Republic. Iran funds Islamic Terror Groups and wants to destroy Israel and the US. This makes it difficult to assimilate Muslims into the US and Europe. Islam is divided between Sunni where assimilation is possible and Shia where it may be impossible.
In 1988 the Palestine National Council meeting in Algiers proclaimed the establishment of the State of Palestine.
We continue to have difficulty dealing with the countries who have adopted Communism. China, Russia, North Korea and Iran continue their aggression. Global Trade is colliding with the failure of Global Assimilation. We also have smaller communist countries like Cuba and Venezuela that align themselves with the larger Communist Countries.
In the US we believe in National Sovereignty. Voters in other countries are free to electing the wrong leaders, which they often do.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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