You have now explored two separate ways to view the role of pirates in the Atlantic during colonial expansion. If viewed in the context of the goals and actions of Europeans in the New World, pirates appear to simply be a byproduct of the ruthless, profit-driven environment of the European colonies. However, if viewed in the context of their own governing systems, pirates could be argued to be the cause of the disorder and chaos inherent to that time and place by implementing revolutionary ideas in direct opposition to the governments in power. Now that you've seen some evidence, which stance makes more sense to you?

The Big Question

Do pirates in the colonial New World deserve to be seen as the creators of a chaotic environment, or as a byproduct of a lawless system?