America is described as the land of the free to many countries around the world, where hope and success prospers. There are also many people who think of America as evil and accuse it of many indictments. An indictment can be defined as a serious crime or accusation towards someone. Theft of land, Mexican territory, labor, resources, and the American Dream are some of the indictments many accuse us of. Regardless of the accusation, there is always history behind a statement, good and bad.
The first indictment that America was charged with was theft of land. They were also additionally charged with genocide. The Americans were believed to have stolen Native American land when Columbus went on a voyage to the Americas. They also thought that it was genocide because Columbus enslaved thousands of Indians.
I don’t think that Americans stole their land. Land possession has been a part of history for ages, where even Native Americans participated in. They took over each other’s tribes and removed the weaker ones. This is also known as the conquest ethic. It wouldn’t really be considered stealing if the land wasn’t theirs to begin with. As for the act of genocide, I don’t agree with that either. Genocide is the intentional act of killing a certain ethnic group or nation. Many years after Columbus came to America, the population of Native Americans decreased drastically, but not because of genocide. It decreased because of the spread of diseases brought by other settlers. Some of the diseases were measles, typhus, smallpox, malaria, etc. They weren’t immune to those diseases, which ended fatally for a majority of the population.
The concept of land ownership and conquest is supported by historical evidence of similar practices worldwide. The conquest ethic, where stronger groups overtook weaker ones, was not unique to European settlers. For instance, in the centuries preceding European arrival, various Native American tribes frequently engaged in conflicts over territory. This dynamic of conquest and land control was a global phenomenon, not limited to any single culture or time period. The decline in Native American populations due to disease further complicates the narrative, as these diseases were inadvertently introduced by Europeans and not part of a calculated genocide. Historians like Alfred W. Crosby have extensively documented the impact of diseases in “Ecological Imperialism: The Biological Expansion of Europe, 900-1900,” highlighting that the tragic loss of life was more a consequence of biological factors than deliberate extermination.
The second indictment America was charged with was theft of Mexican territory. People claim that America stole half of the territory in the Mexican War. The main cause of the Mexican-American War was Texas’s annexation and its independence. This led to a dispute over territory, which eventually started the war between both countries.
America did not steal Mexican territory. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was the treaty that put an end to the Mexican-American War. In the treaty, Mexico willingly gave Utah, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming to America. In return, America paid $15 million to Mexico for giving them the land. America did not steal anything from Mexico. In fact, Mexico gave it to them, which proves how innocent America is in this situation.
This historical context aligns with the legal frameworks of the time. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is a significant document in American history, marking a formal and legal acquisition of territory. The financial compensation provided to Mexico also adheres to the norms of international treaties, where land transfers are often accompanied by monetary settlements. Additionally, scholars like Robert A. Divine in “The Mexican War: A Study in Causation” argue that while the war’s motivations were complex and multifaceted, the resulting treaty was a legally binding agreement between two sovereign nations.
The third indictment that they were charged with was theft of labor. Americans had many Africans enslaved to make them do their work. They also had a second charge about racism and segregation. The country was split between race, where whites had the upper hand, and the blacks were treated poorly.
I don’t agree with the charge against America. America was not the first nation on earth to have slavery. In fact, there had been even worse practices of slavery in other countries. The Egyptians enslaved a large population of Jews thousands of years ago. This shows slavery had been around for centuries, and it was a societal norm in many places. Yet, people still saw America as the worst country. America was the first country to end slavery. Over 300,000 soldiers died trying to give freedom to slaves. Racism was a huge part of America; whites were offensive to many people of color, but it wasn’t just whites. There were many blacks who owned slaves, their own people. An example of this would be William Ellison. In the early 1700s, indentured servants were brought to America. They were sold to America and worked side by side with black slaves. It wasn’t only discrimination against colored people; it happened to others that were children, white, and even women.
While it is true that slavery has existed globally, the nature of American chattel slavery was uniquely brutal and dehumanizing. The comparison to other historical instances of slavery should not diminish the specific atrocities committed in the United States. Furthermore, the Civil War and the subsequent abolition of slavery were pivotal moments in American history, marking a significant moral and social turning point. Scholars such as Eric Foner in “The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery” emphasize that while America was not the first to practice slavery, the nation’s struggle to abolish it was monumental and complex. The Civil War’s human cost underscores the deep divisions and the moral imperative to end slavery, which was a significant achievement despite the country’s prior complicity in the institution.
The fourth indictment is theft of resources. The United States is thought of as stealing goods and resources from other countries for our own benefit. Since we have won many wars and overthrown many governments, everyone seems to think that we steal their resources too.
The United States is everything but a thief of resources. After World War II, America helped Germany and Japan rebuild after we almost destroyed their countries. The Transatlantic Slave Trade is an example of how we didn’t steal people’s resources but traded with other countries. It was a trade between America, Africa, and Europe. America sent crops and tobacco to Europe, and Europe sent spices to Africa. Then, Africa sent slaves to us. During this trade, it benefited each country in their own way because they got what they needed. We got slaves we used for our plantations and didn’t steal them from anyone. We received them from another country after we gave something to them.
The Marshall Plan, which provided extensive aid to rebuild European economies after World War II, exemplifies America’s role in fostering global economic recovery rather than exploiting other nations’ resources. Additionally, the complexities of international trade during the colonial and post-colonial periods show that resource exchange was often reciprocal, albeit unequal. Historians like David S. Landes in “The Wealth and Poverty of Nations” argue that while Western powers, including the United States, benefited disproportionately from global trade networks, these interactions were not solely exploitative but also facilitated mutual economic growth.
The final indictment against America was theft of the American Dream. The American Dream can be defined as the equal opportunity to reach success. Foreign policies and free market systems in America are some forms of theft that people seem to think we steal.
The wealth of America is created; it isn’t ripped off or stolen from other countries or people. There can’t be a rip-off. Through the consent of customers is how capitalism works. Customers have the option to freely buy whatever they want, and by doing that, the businesses or enterprises benefit from it. The American Dream has not been stolen. Although policies change over the years, there is always a way people benefit from them.
Capitalism, when functioning ideally, is based on voluntary exchange and consumer choice. The concept of the American Dream, despite its criticisms, has driven innovation and economic development. Economists like Milton Friedman in “Capitalism and Freedom” argue that free-market capitalism, by allowing individuals to pursue their own interests, leads to greater overall prosperity. However, it is also crucial to acknowledge the critiques of capitalism and the American Dream, particularly regarding income inequality and systemic barriers to success. Scholars such as Joseph Stiglitz in “The Price of Inequality” highlight that while the American Dream is a powerful motivator, structural changes are needed to ensure that opportunities are truly accessible to all.
In every indictment or accusation against America, there is always a truth to it. Some can be false, and on the other hand, some can also be true. To me, all of the indictments were false. America is a great country, whether people want to admit it or not. Sure, it has its flaws, but in the end, so does everything else. Understanding the historical and academic contexts behind these accusations allows for a more nuanced view of America’s complex legacy.