"The Achilles Heel of the Americas was the lack of cultural confidence typical of new settlers"

This quote by Arthur Erickson speaks with the vulnerability of the Americas when they were very first settled. The phrase "Achilles Heel" is a referral to the Greek hero Achilles, who was invulnerable except for his heel. In this case, the "Achilles Heel" of the Americas is the lack of cultural self-confidence of the new inhabitants. This uncertainty was a significant consider the vulnerability of the Americas, as the settlers were not as well-equipped to deal with the challenges of a colony as they could have been. This uncertainty might have been because of a variety of elements, such as the unfamiliarity of the land, the absence of knowledge of the local customs, or the worry of the unknown. This lack of confidence could have caused the inhabitants making mistakes or not making the most of the chances offered to them. Eventually, this lack of cultural self-confidence was a significant consider the vulnerability of the Americas when they were very first settled.