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American History- Notes and Study Guides Material Type: Notes; Professor: Stewart; Class: AMERICAN HISTORY; Subject: History; University: Appalachian State University; Term: Fall 2009;
Typology: Study notes
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Test Format Id questions Know the rough time period of an event/sequence Significance
Thursday, September 03, 2009 8:09 PM
Study Guide for Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England
1. What is the thesis of the book? The shift from Indian to European dominance in New England entailed important changes-well known to historians- in the ways these people organized their lives, but it also involved fundamental reorganizations-less well known to historians- in the region's plant and animal communities. (Pg. xv )
2. What is ecological/environmental history? A history which extends its boundaries beyond human institutions-economies, class and gender systems, political organizations, cultural rituals- to the natural ecosystems which provide the context for those institutions. (Pg. xv )
What primary sources does the author rely upon? - The Primary sources of this book are largely the work of other scholars or other disciplines, while the author also included the words and journal entries of various colonial individuals living in New England. (Pg. Xvii)
What are some of the problems with the primary sources used? - The major problem with the author's sources is that they are either what scholars believe to be true about a era in the past based on what little research can be done; or based on the biased accounts of colonial settlers that were in no way ecologists. (Pg. Xvii)
What is an ecological community? - The first generation of academic ecologists literally defined an ecological community as superorganisms which experienced birth, growth, maturity, and sometimes death as much as individual plants and animals did. (pg. 10)
What is an ecosystem? - a concept that replaced the idea of ecological communities that allows "individual species to simply be described in terms of their associations with other species along a continuous range of environments".(pg. 11)
What are “merchantable commodities”? Richard Hakluyt? - author of Discourse Concerning Western Planting (1584); stated that "Merchantable Commodities" were the natural products which could be shipped to Europe and sold at a profit in order to provide a steady income for colonial settlements. (pg. 20)
What does the author mean by “patchwork”? - meaning a mismatch of species communities all thrown together into one cohesive ecological "Quilt" that followed no particular pattern. However, the Europeans tendency was to systematize the patchwork and impose a more regular pattern to it. a. Describe the New England landscape before European arrival? - the natural ecosystem tended toward a patchwork of diverse communities arranged almost randomly on the landscape- its very continuity depended on that disorder.
How did Native Americans adapt to the New England landscape? - the crucial difference between how the northern and southern Indians adapted to their landscape is agriculture. In general Indians south of the Kennebec River in Maine raised crops as part of their annual subsistence cycles; more northern Indians showed no sign of cultivation. The northern Indians
As you read, make sure you write notes (and study those notes). As a way to study, make sure you know about the people/key terms listed below and the answers to the questions listed below. All of the questions on the book quiz will be related to these individuals and questions. There will be 10 questions on the book quiz.
Thursday, September 03, 2009 8:10 PM
exchange that measured the value of commodities and capital, the surplus whose accumulation was the motor of economic growth. (pg. 78). What commodities did Europeans want from the land and Native Americans? - fish, furs, timbers, land. (Pg. 76)
What impact did disease have on Native Americans? - mortality rates in the initial onslaught of disease was rarely less than 80 to 90 percent. The 1633 smallpox epidemic saw mortalities in many villages reach 95%. The low population densities of northern hunters probably protected them somewhat from certain diseases. Overall in the first 75 years of the 17th century the total number of Indians in New England fell from well over 70,000 to fewer than 12,000. Furthermore, The Indian "powwows" (doctors) often found themselves dying from coming in contact with the sick which undermined the spiritual and religious practices of Indian communities. (Pg. 85-89)
What is wampum? Why is it important? - Wampumpeag; the strings of white and purple beads that revolutionized the fur trade in New England; originally was a symbol of high status. (pg. 95)
What commodities did Native Americans want from Europeans? - They traded fur and Wampum for textiles, arrowheads, knives, guns, European tools, and food (corn, bread, peas, prunes, and alcohol). (Pg. 102,104)
What were the ecological consequences of the elimination of the beaver? - the elimination of the beaver had ecological consequences beyond the loss of the animals themselves. Their passing made much of the place names in New England make much sense (ex: Beaver Creeks). Also, the European settlers used to go out of their way to cross rivers using abandoned beaver dams instead of having to build a bridge, the sites of old beaver dams were also often chosen as the sites for mills; however with the elimination of the beaver these old dams began to fall apart and there were no beavers to make new ones. The Death of the beaver in fact paved the way for non- Indian communities that would soon arrive because once an old dam had collapsed the pond it had created drained leaving a huge patch of agriculturally prime land. (Pg. 106-107)
Why did Europeans want trees? - one of the earliest "Merchantable commodities" the settlers of America perceived trees as a commodity because of its scarcity and value in England. Also because to "improve" timber and therefore acquire property rights to it all one had to do was cut it down and chop it up. (Pg. 20, 109)
What impact did deforestation have on the New England landscape/ecosystem? - By the 1790's deforestation and agricultural cultivation had the effect of warming and drying the soil. (Pg. 122) Deforestation also aided in the reduction of edge-dwelling animal species, whole forests and species of trees were gone, and where forests were destroyed the landscape became hotter in the summer and colder in the winter. (Pg. 126)
Why did Europeans want to build fences? - the Europeans wanted to build fences because of the interactions among domesticated grazing animals, demographic expansion, and English property systems , as well as segregating the uses to which land was put. Fences marked off not only the map of a settlements property rights, but its economic activities and ecological relationships as well. (Pg. 138)
What animals did the Europeans introduce to New England? - hogs, goats, cattle, oxen, horses, and sheep (Pg. 129)
What impact did domesticated animals have on the New England landscape? - The keeping of cattle on Indian land further decreased the forage available for wild deer herds and so continued the erosion of hunting resources. Also the ecological consequences of keeping livestock included intensifying the pressure on grazing lands, inviting more territorial expansion which necessitated
intensifying the pressure on grazing lands, inviting more territorial expansion which necessitated the construction of roads connecting interior towns with urban centers. (Pg. 103, 140) What is monoculture? - raising corn without the accompanying legumes which had helped fertilize the Indian fields, the practice of monoculture hastened soil exhaustion. (Pg. 150).
Be able to compare New England ecosystems in 1600 with those in 1800. - Many ecological changes were wrought between 1600 and 1800. Firstly, due to the transition from Indians' subsistence hunting and farming numerous animals were wiped out, including the beaver and moose, also the over usage of land caused soil exhaustion and wind erosion. The keeping of large numbers of domesticated animals accompanied with pastorialism had numerous effects on the ecosystem including the elimination of native grasses as well as a constant need for expansion that led to further clear cutting of the forests. The Europeans exploitation of wood for fuel as well as building purposes led to the elimination of many forests and caused the species of trees in the remaining forests to sometimes change to those better adapted to the harsh exploitation. Finally, the view of many parts of the ecosystem as "Merchantable commodities" led to the exploitation of and eventual elimination of New England's natural abundance of resources.
□ Squash (came from Mexico)and gourds (containers) □ NO CORN YET Agriculture can produce more food therefore it boosts the population causing them to be less nomadic and eventually establish permanent residence.
Very similar to the Archaic Period except the major difference is AGRICULTURE
Most advanced AGRICULTURE- CORN OR MAIZE Largest population in American South Etowah Metropolis- North East Georgia- 60,000 people □ Purpose is unknown possibly religious ceremony Mound Builders- 30ft high Indians didn’t ride horses until the Europeans bring them over Still no written language Tons die of disease; mostly children or elders. The loss of the elders explains the loss of the oral history that would reveal the meaning of the mounds
They planted corn in mounds Inhabited the entire eastern seaboard Learned to grow beans and squash
Similar to the Mississippian culture Hohokam 300BC in Arizona Canal Systems Problem was water shortages Permanent village Completely dependent on one another for survival Commonality/oneness
○ This is a reason that the colonists hated the British
This is a reason that the colonists hated the British Walter Raleigh/ John White ○ A pirate who in 1583 was given a charter by Queen Elizabeth I to set up a colony
From Raleigh's failure they realized that colonization isn't easy and that it takes extremely large amounts of money
Although Raleigh finally gives up there is still a desire in Brittan for colonization among rich business men.
Joint-Stock Companies This realization led to the creation of Joint Stock Companies- companies in which many rich men pool their money together
From Raleigh's failure they realized that colonization isn't easy and that it takes extremely large amounts of money
Although Raleigh finally gives up there is still a desire in Brittan for colonization among rich business men.
Virginia Company/ Jamestown ○ Cash Crop=Tobacco ○ Leaves for the New World in 1606 This shows that they came to make a quick profit and didn’t plan to settle down and establish a colony
106 died in the first year ○ 3 ships; 144 men, NO WOMEN ○ Eventually establish the Jamestown colony ○ There was no gold in Virginia They cant farm Hostile Native Americans ○ Problems: They wanted this alliance because the Indians knew how to grow corn ○ To resolve these they are able to form an alliance, called the POWHATAN ALLIANCE ○ At first the colony is a failure
□ Rise in population A lot of people became landless and moved to the city. However, slaves were extremely expensive making them a long term investment that wasn’t very logical at this time because people in Virginia only lived, on average, for about 5 years.
This is why there was a lower percentage of slaves in the Chesapeake area.
This causes the price of indentured servants to remain low because of oversupply.
Most of these displaced people want to get out of England □ Improved agricultural techniques 2 events in England:
○ Class conflict- lower class revolt This causes land price to increase and tobacco price to decrease based on the basic laws of supply and demand
Once indentured servants finished their seven years they wanted land of their own to grow tobacco
○ 1650 - 1660 - a gentry class arises ○ By 1670 there is a growing resentment in the lower classes against the elite □ Mathew takes pigs from the Doeg and then they take them back 1 - Thomas Mathew (a farmer) has a disagreement with the Doeg tribe The retaliating Virginia colonists mistake the Susquehanna for the Doeg and kill them □ However, Berkley wanted to continue negotiations The colony wants Gov. William Berkley (Governor of Virginia) to form a militia and go on the offensive.
□ Bacon is elected to the House of Burgess and is arrested by Berkley for rebellion. □ Once pardoned he forms another militia against the Indians and the rich Nathaniel Bacon organizes his own militia and by doing so is going against Berkley's power ○ Doeg vs. Thomas Mathew This shows that whites in general could be brought together due to a shared hatred or racism.
○ When social conditions are bad the lower class can revolt against the higher class ○ The higher class needs laborers for harvest but the laborers resent it. In that they desire a labor force that will never be free and compete with them for land ○ After Bacon's Rebellion slaves were more relied on for labor
□ Cost of slaves becomes cheaper than indentured servants.
He is also disgusted with the amount of rituals in the church. He is especially disgusted with the sale of indulgences.
This is the main thing that divides the Catholics from the Protestants. ○ Luther argues that faith alone can assure salvation.
○ Because the king wanted to be able to get a divorce
Predestination- God has chosen who will go to heaven The Reprobate- those who weren't chosen ○ Believed in predestination Because of this England persecutes the puritans causing them to want to move to the new world.
○ Puritans are angry with the Anglican church for still practicing too many rituals ○ Puritans- predestination ○ The premise of the Massachusetts colony is for religious purposes
Interestingly enough most individuals on the Mayflower were not puritans. □ Cape Cod Harbor The mayflower was headed for Virginia but ended up in Massachusetts □ a written agreement □ Stated that the people in power have to be elected by the people The Mayflower Compact (1620)- the puritans realize that they need to create some type of government before they get off of the boat
○ Winter causes them to be unable to farm Squanto helped the pilgrims in their initial year. Squanto could speak perfect English because he was captured by Europeans for a few years and learned during this time
Squanto died from small pox within one year of English settlement ○ The Wampanog tribe helps the settlers
○ Virginia ○ Pennsylvania ○ Connecticut ○ Rhode Island ○ Georgia ○ North Carolina ○ Massachusetts ○ South Carolina ○ Delaware ○ Maryland ○ New Hampshire ○ New York ○ New Jersey
○ Tennant farmers- rent land off the rich ○ Mostly rural other than New York City
Known for religious tolerance
○ Known for religious tolerance ○ Best poor man's country- lots of fertile land (a smaller plot could still produce an abundance) ○ Main town- Philadelphia ○ Lots of merchants- become head of government Triangular Trade textiles, rum, and manufactured goods ○ 1st leg- Europe ships to Africa Slaves to the Caribbean Produce sugar and molasses ○ 2nd leg- Africa ships to the Americas Sugar, tobacco, rum, and cotton ○ 3rd leg- Americas ship to England (up until the American Revolution)
North Carolina ○ Split apart from South Carolina in 1712 Hard to ship products □ Tobacco, lumber, crops, hogs, and cattle. Develops a mixed economy: NO ONE CASH CROP Diversify agriculture ○ Problem: no access to deep water ports
South Carolina/ Barbados ○ Originates from the west indies Dependent on slave labor due to the harsh conditions in Barbados □ South Carolina is created to provide food to Barbados □ There was a large black population in Barbados Barbados- island colony dominated by sugar plantations ○ Proprietors had connections with Barbados- sugar cash crops By 1700's rice farming became highly profitable Rice was only grown in 2 other places: west Africa and china □ Especially slaves from West Africa because they knew how to grow rice. Rice cultivation caused a boom in the importation of slaves ○ South Carolina's cash crop
Georgia/ James Oglethorpe 1 - Founded by James Oglethorpe Small farmers with small plots of land No large amounts of land were allowed to be owned by one person - people couldn’t sell their land to one another.
○ Charitable colony: Uplift poor people
British wins □ Must find ways to raise money
○ Problems created by the war:
□ Sugar Act of 1764 Stamp Act Internal/ direct tax (meaning is on goods made or produced in the colonies) Tax on any type of paper documents Infuriated all colonists especially merchants and those living in urban areas □ Stamp Act of 1765 benign neglect Allowed colonies to impose their own taxes □ Whig ideology- □ "Actual" vs. "Virtual" Representation "No taxation without representation"-the consent of the people is needed □ The previous form of taxation was benign neglect Whig Ideology The Whigs from the early 1700's in England. Argued that there is a constant struggle between liberty and power. Believed that people were naturally wicked. With power comes a desire for more power and corrupt means of seeking it. Argued that it was the people's responsibility to counter and prevent tyranny. □ Whig ideology- “actual” representation
Stated that the people that the colonists elect to the state assemblies should get to dictate taxes. “virtual” representation
□ Townsend Act of 1767 Tea Act ◊ Joint stock company of British capitalists ◊ Has a monopoly of imports and exports in Southeast Asia, especially on tea. This company is going bankrupt and will have a big impact on the British economy. They create the Tea Act to prevent this bankruptcy
East India Trading Company (Southeast Asia)
Colonists impersonating Indians dump the East India Trading Company tea into Boston Harbor. □ BOSTON TEA PARTY-in response to the Tea Act of 1773 Coercive Acts changed some colonists, who were originally opposed to the radical fringe groups, minds and began to slowly advocate independence.
They were called this by Samuel Adams ◊ An attempt to punish Boston by closing their port (embargo) Enacted in response to the Boston Tea Party Included the quartering act Allowed governors appointed by the crown to appoint local positions that were previously elected.
Serious crimes were no longer tried in Massachusetts but in England
Concord and Lexington ○ Feared the colonists in Concord, Massachusetts were stock piling weapons and forming a militia. Standoff in Lexington on the way to Concord. The British won and continued on their way to Concord and destroyed all of the weapons there
On their way back from Concord the redcoats were ambushed by the colonists who were ○ He sent British redcoats to check it out □ Military Governor of Massachusetts- Battle of Lexington (April 1775)
winning. ► Which played an important role in the Siege of Yorktown (1781) ◊ They supply patriot forces and SEND THEIR NAVY Lord Charles Cornwallis Thought this would work because there is a high level of loyalists in Georgia and South Carolina.
○ First attack Georgia and focus on the southern colonies and work their way north Savannah, Georgia (December 1778) Camden, South Carolina (August 1780) ○ Lord Charles Cornwallis To prevent this Cornwallis gives Major Patrick Ferguson troops to subdue the inhabitants of the North Carolina Mountains
○ Problem: The left flank of the British army was vulnerable to hit and run attacks by the Patriots □ British Southern Strategy “Over-Mountain Men” / Battle of Kings Mountain ○ Colonel Charles McDowell (Burke County) Watauga settlement □ Despise England for past grievances against their ancestors Scotch-Irish Mad about the Proclamation of 1763 limiting their expansion. Because of this McDowell convinces them join his forces. ○ "Over-Mountain Men"- This enrages the over-mountain men even more Ferguson gets cocky and sends out a pamphlet warning that if they give up he will spare them but if now he will rape, pillage, and plunder their town.
○ The over-mountain men/McDowell meet Ferguson's troops on Kings Mountain ○ The Patriots win this battle and Ferguson died. □ Battle of Kings Mountain Battle of Guilford Court House ○ Nathaniel Green (General of the Patriot army in the south) Therefore it was a British win Significance: Cornwallis lost 1/4 of his army (mostly officers) ○ Nathaniel's army was forced to retreat in this battle □ Battle of Guilford Court House (1781)
□ He was forced to surrender all of his troops This cut Cornwallis off from any aid or supplies ○ The French navy blockaded the coast/harbor
Commercial issues □ Want a strong central government, sound national currency, and to stimulate trade. □ Lived in the urban areas along the eastern coast Interest in maintaining commercial ties with Britain □ Middle class Conservatives- □ Hesitant to embrace a strong central government □ Whig ideology □ Hate British and punish loyalists □ Farmers from the rural back country ◊ Wanted to be able to participate (democracy) Ticked off that the right to vote is largely based on property ownership □ Advocate that the way people do politics should change Radicals- ○ Rise of factions over this: □ Central Question: how strong should the federal government be?
Reflected Americans fear of a strong central government
The state had made a new constitution that had a property requirement for voting. ○ Massachusetts ○ A lot of farmers are in debt to merchants There is not a lot of hard currency in the area so farmers are often forced to buy supplies on credit meaning they have to pay interest to the merchants.
The legislature is comprised of merchants who want to keep collecting interest in the farmers debt so they ignore the petition.
○ The farmers petition the legislature to create a debt reform program The Massachusetts militia destroys them Assembles forces and then they march toward the government of Massachusetts to rebel ○ Daniel Shays