Strategic Success - Katelyn

No strategy has previously been perfect. Surprises and unexpected scenarios occur and destroy what was once considered the perfect plan. Ideas, people, and civilizations contain their strengths and weaknesses. Failure, however, does not always result. Success is often the outcome of well devised strategies, as exemplified by the English and Spanish colonies of the New World.

Of all the colonization in the New World, the Spanish and the English were by far the most successful due to their militaries’ strength, their attractiveness to newcomers, and their protectiveness. In order to be certain that supplies would reach their settlements, the Spanish and the English both had navies. Strong militaries were also at their disposal. Strength was not a lone positive attribute to the English and Spanish strategies. Living in the New World seemed very attractive to nercomers. Settlers would receive portions of land on arrival. The Spanish settlers would own everything and everyone on their land, including any Indians that might dwell there. England and Spain’s successes in luring settlers to their territories were also caused by their well-built fortifications. Forts were built to ward off Indians and protect themselves from attack. England’s and Spain’s immensely strong militaries were also helpful in protecting the settlers.

The English and Spanish settlements in the Americas are examples of how carefully devised and well thought out strategies can often lead to success. Strategic success has been found by many through precise and careful planning. A plan can never be carried out without at least a small amount of risk or a slight possibility of failure, but a carefully formed strategy has a much higher likelihood of triumph.

Katelyn (grade 8)