Changes Throughout Land : Indians, Colonists, And The Ecology Of New England

In the early 1600’s, English people, attempting to escape the economic crisis that had plagued England, began migrating to the Americas and establishing colonies. The New England colonies and the Chesapeake region were both settled largely by populations of people of English origin. Despite this similarity, by 1700 the regions had evolved into two distinct societies. The difference in the kind of people that settled, the shared communal values, and the profitability of the land in these areas are what shaped these regions into contrasting societies.

The first colonists to settle in New England were the Puritans in order to gain religious freedom. The environment of the New England colonies was a lot colder than the other two colonies because they were farthest North. Although it did have a positive impact because it was prevented from any life threatening diseases. The negative factor was due to the severe winters that killed many people. The natural resources were definitely important than agricultural crops because of the short spring and summer seasons to grow anything; they were at least able to find fish, trees, and furs. Most colonists had to grow their own food because of the thin and rocky soil. In order to have a better economy, fishing, lumbering,

Although the Chesapeake and New England colonies were the earliest English colonies to flourish in the New World, they were both extremely different in the ways that they developed. Similarities between the colonies can be found, but the colonies were mostly different. The colonies differed most in religion, society, culture, economy, and their relationships with the American Indians of the region. The reasons for such differences can be understood by realizing that the colonies were settled by incredibly different people who possessed different cultures, religious beliefs, and motivations for settling in their respective colonies in the first place. The Chesapeake and New England colonies had similarities and differences in their development, including how each colony affected nearby American Indians. Their differences and similarities can be understood by analyzing each colony’s geography, economy, religions, and cultures.

Although New England and the Chesapeake region were both settled largely by the people of English origin, by 1700 the regions had evolved into two distinct societies. The reasons for this distinct development were mostly based on the type on people from England who chose to settle in the two areas, and on the manner in which the areas were settled.

The Europeans changed the land of the home of the Indians, which they renamed New England. In Changes in the Land, Cronon explains all the different aspects in how the Europeans changed the land. Changing by the culture and organization of the Indians lives, the land itself, including the region’s plants and animals. Cronon states, “The shift from Indian to European dominance in New England entailed important changes well known to historians in the ways these peoples organized their lives, but it also involved fundamental reorganizations less well known to historians in the region’s plant and animal communities,” (Cronon, xv). New England went through human development, environmental and ecological change from the Europeans.

Many people are under a false impression that early Native Americans are the original environmentalists. This is an impression that many people share. The Abenaki tribes that resided in Maine from 3700 BP were not by our traditional definition, environmentalists. In fact they were far from ecologically sound. This paper is meant not to criticize the Native Americans of the age, but to clarify their roles in the environment. To better understand this subject some background is needed.

In Changes in the Land, William Cronon points out the European colonists` pursuits of a capitalistic market and the impact it had on the New England ecosystem. Native Americans and colonists had different views on the use of land resources. The Natives viewed the land as something not owned, but as a resource to sustain life. They believe in a hunting-gathering system, hunting only when necessary. In the long run Native Americans lost their old traditions and were forced to adapt to the colonists` traditions in order to survive. This change contributed even more to the alteration of the ecosystem during the colonization period. In contrast, colonists viewed the

In 1606 the Virginia Company's 3 ships set sail for the new world, landing near the Chesapeake Bay where Native Americans attacked them. The Colonists pushed up the Bay until they came to a place on may 24, 1607 they called Jamestown.

In the 16th century into the early 17th centuries, there was a rapid spread of various European nations who occupied the new American lands. Before they set out on ships to occupy, kings would send people to explore the treasuries and worth of North America’s coast. Before settling, there were already two different colonies who existed which were the New England and Chesapeake colonies. Although the New England and the Chesapeake colonies are massively different from each other, there are also many similarities that readers can compare such as their economy, geography, and religious characteristics.

This paper offers an inside look at how the New England and the mid-Atlantic colonies lived, out of the thirteen that settled, the different events that led to their upbringing, religious identities, and their day to day lifestyles. Rather, if it was a small difference that the colonist who lived in the same region were not living the same way their neighbor was, it may have also taken generations for the colonist to get things up and running, but along the way they learn what is needed to make their new living situation work.

Amid the 1700's, individuals in the American provinces lived in exceptionally unmistakable social orders. While a few homesteaders drove hard lives, others were solid and prosperous. The two gatherings who demonstrated these distinctions were the pilgrims of the New England and Chesapeake Bay zones. The separating qualities among the Chesapeake and New England settlements created because of economy, religion, and thought processes in frontier extension. The pilgrims of the New England territory had an exceptionally glad and sound life. This high method for living was expected to some extent to better cultivating, a healthier situation, and a high rate of generation in light of more

The east coast of North America was conolized by Englishmen of similar race, however by the time of 1700 they had flourished into two contrasting societies. One of the main motives for this difference was that New England and Chesapeake were founded for different purpose and under different climate. New England was founded mostly for religious reasons. Puritans that were persecuted in England wanted a “New England” and to escape the religious struggle they faced.

New England was founded in 1630 by Pilgrims. The layout of the land was mostly made

Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England authored by William Cronon discusses the history of the ecological changes of colonial New England in consequence to the relationship of Native American and European Settlers and the land. Cronon exemplifies this by helping readers understand the effect of the change of dominance in New England from Native Americans to Europeans had on landscape and ecosystems.

Not only were there many push factors that caused English colonists to migrate to North America, there were also a decent amount of pull factors. Despite the long journey ahead that would bring many changes to their way of life, these colonists still found ways to maintain their British identity as they grew into becoming Americans. However, as Britain increased control over the colonies, the people started to retaliate. Unexpectedly, this control resulted in actions from the colonists that soon gave way to war.