The Death of an Environmental Friendly Nation And The Birth of an Empire Built on
Commodities
Most people have heard of Native American Indians. They were the first
inhabitants of a nation that is presently known as the United States of America. Native
Americans led an environmentally efficient way of life. Unfortunately, their precious
way of life quickly changed with the arrival of Europeans who viewed everything as a
commodity. In his book, Changes In The Land, William Cronon outlines the effects of
the two groups had on their external environment and ecology. Moreover, Cronon
describes the changing circumstances in New England’s plant and animal
communities that occurred with the shift from Indian to European dominance. In this
paper, I will discuss the changes in environment and landscape brought about by the
arrival of the Europeans. In order to perceive the environmental changes that took place
during this period of time, we must first take a glimpse into the environment and Indian
way of life before Europeans came and forever changed the landscape.
A Simplistic Way of Life
Land use in Pre-Colonial New England was mostly dependant on ecology as well
as seasonal effects. Unlike the south, north New England was densely wooded with cold,
unforgiving winters. Differences in northern and southern climate and vegetation played
an important role in the lifestyles of Native American tribes. Before the Europeans came,
Native Americans survived over the centuries by careful planning. Gathering an
appropriate food supply for each tribe was essential for survival during the winter months
(Changes In The Land Chapter 3).
Ecology was an important instrument in shaping lifestyles of Native
People’s. Native tribes of New England differed greatly from other tribes
in different regions of the country. A lack of good soil for planting a harvest made
Northern tribes heavily dependent on hunting and fishing for daily rations. There was an
abundance of food such as deer, fish, and even beaver. Also, the women and children
collected nuts and berries from the forests. Modes of travel also differed between tribes.
The Northern tribes enjoyed canoeing since the heavily wooded forests did not permit
easy travel. They often traveled along rivers in canoes to avoid the dense tree populated
landscape. Inability to cultivate the land for food made Indians vulnerable to the cold and
hostile winter that lead to the deaths of family members through starvation. This point of
view is also expressed in the following quote:
Cronon’s book is about savagery and civilization. The Indians made poor
use of the natural abundance of the New England frontier and consequently lived poorly.
However, in the South, Native American tribes prospered by making good use of
“natural abundance.” Contrary to the above quote, Indians did
not live poorly. There way of life and values taught them to use only what they needed.
Moreover, what Natives needed had a lot to do with the ecological surrounding of a tribe.
Southern tribes
cultivated many crops in their fields due to fertile land. Fascinatingly, they burned down
sections of woodland for better soil to grow vegetation. This vegetation grew attracting
animals to an area to eat. This ingenious tactic provided crops and attracted animals for
hunting. The southern tribes exercised more mobility because they could grow their own
crops as well as hunt. As in most Native Indian cultures, the women worked in the fields
while the men did the hunting. Winter did not take a heavy toll on the southern tribes
because they generally accumulated more food for survival through winter months.
Ownership of land was non-existent in Native American culture. Indians believed that
they, as all things, belonged to the land. This belief was a major difference between
Indians and Europeans (Natures Nation Chapter 2).
Arrival of the Europeans
The land as the Europeans found it was different in many ways then the land they
left behind. Europeans viewed everything as a commodity as described in the following
quote:
As for trees the country yeeldeth sassafras a plant of sovereigne vertue for the French
Poxe, and as some of the late have learnedly written good against the plague and many
other maladies; Vines, cedars, okes, ashes, beeches, birch trees, cherie trees bearing fruit
whereof wee did eate, hasels, wichhasels, the best wood of all toher to make sope-ashes
withall, walnut-trees, maples, holy to make bird lime with, and a kinde of tree unknown
to us bearing fruit like a small red Peare-plum. (Changes In The Land, pg. 21)
Cheaib 4
Early accounts dating as far back as 1584, did not describe the landscape and forests
accurately because these accounts were nothing more than lists. They were lists of
commodities or resources for the interest of future undertakings.
Europeans often made outrageous claims of abundance, which give us an
indication of the land they had come from. The commodities they frequently wrote about
were the scarce resources of Europe. Such claims included: There was enough forest
that could allow a poor man to live comfortably throughout the entire winter; Rivers were
filled with so many fish one could walk across their backs and not get wet; Enough deer
for a man to kill one hundred a day; Turkeys were ten times the size as the ones in
England. These all described scarce at commodities in England the time. Unfortunately,
the early settlers had to survive the first winter before they could capitalize on the
commodities. This proved to be a hard task that left half of the first settlers dead and the
rest of them dependent on Native Americans.
Early European Settlers
Native Americans graciously supplied early settlers with food. Ungratefully, in return the
settlers occupied lands cleared by natives and raided food from native gardens. The
following quote in a misrepresentation of the true situation:
European [Euro-Americans] had a higher use for the frontier abundance and soon had
improved New England. Capitalism, as practiced in pre-1800 New England, made good
ecological sense.
Without the Indians the early settlers could not have survived in America. They
depended on Indians for their clearings and food. Moreover, they did not make good
ecological sense. “When Indians demonstrated maize to the struggling
European settlers,
the Indians were amused and revolted by the invader’s sloppy, even lazy,
weeding and cultivation compared to neat, clean Indian fields.” This
proves that Indians were the ones that made good ecological sense. They were self
sufficient and only used what was needed to survive. Europeans were poorer
frontiersmen, trappers, hunters, and farmers than the Indians, but they had developed
techniques for managing other people. The true European art of conquering others was
soon put to use on Indians.
Different Temperaments, Talents, and Convictions
Indians and Europeans differed in many ways. There first main difference is their
beliefs on land and religion. Indians believed that they belonged to the land and the earth
was their mother. On the other hand Europeans, who were of Christian faith; felt that
they were placed on earth to conquer it. They believed that people own land rather than
people are a part of the land.
The second main difference was the role of families and in particular the role of
men and women in each society. European settlers had their own set of fields to plant
and harvest. In contrast, a whole Indian tribe often used one field that was divided
among families. The role of a woman in Indian society was to tend to the crops as well
as the children. The role of European women was as a homemaker. They cooked the
meals, attended to the children and sewed clothing for the entire family. The main role of
men in European society was to tend to the fields. The role of men in Indian society was
to hunt for meat and fish. These differences led many settlers to believe that Indians
were lazy because they put their women in the fields and went hunting which was
considered a leisure event. However, the Indian women were efficient planters because
they would cut away competing plants and weeds in order to get a better harvest.
The Changing Landscape
American growth began with the “abundance theory”
that early settlers believed and portrait in their writings. Access to commodities fueled
by the ever-growing European economy made growth a profitable venture for the settlers
and nations involved. Unfortunately, this profit would be at the cost of Indians and the
environment. At stake for the Indians was a their culture and their entire way of life. By
the 19th century, many Indians were dying and being forced to move to unfamiliar
territories.
Europeans brought with them diseases such as small pox and the common cold
that killed thousands of Indians. Indians where susceptible to the common diseases of
Europe because their immune systems where unfamiliar with such diseases. As a result,
entire villages where sometimes wiped out by a single case of small pox or a cold that
contact with whites had induced. Moreover, these people where being forced to move to
unfamiliar areas that brought about stress, starvation, and a dependence on Europeans
that Indians were not used to.
The Gold Rush of 1849 brought about massive expansion for whites and near
extinction for Indians. In the movie The Way West, the Gold Rush is described as
follows:
In 1849, the Gold Rush sent hundreds of thousands of people rushing across the continent
to California and Oregon. Thereafter, the ever-quickening pace of expansion would lead
to a series of bloody confrontations between Native Americans and whites… (
The Way West, Episode 1)
Cheaib 7
The gold rush was pivotal in driving out Indians from their lands. This was all done in
the name of expansion and wealth. The gold rush merely marked the beginning of
expansion, destruction and extinction to the Indian way of life.
Since the first settlers set foot upon America, they have played a vital role in the
destruction of the land as well as the people that existed here first, the Native Americans.
Expansion has brought America a long way, but at what price? According to Carl
Abbott, “We have traded something valuable in our land and people for
every benefit of prosperity. Group oppression and the wasting of the environment are the
parallel results of our commitment to rapid growth and of our tendency to undervalue
anything which cannot be quantified,” (The Human and Environmental
Costs of American Growth). This expansion and exhaustion of the environment and
people must be controlled before it is too late. I do not want the burden of being the last
generation to have an opportunity to do something about this global problem and fail. I
would like to leave a this world knowing my grandchildren can live as happy as I have
lived.
Keywords:
death environmental friendly nation birth empire built commodities most people have
heard native american indians they were first inhabitants nation that presently known
united states america native americans environmentally efficient life unfortunately their
precious life quickly changed with arrival europeans viewed everything commodity book
changes land william cronon outlines effects groups their external environment ecology
moreover cronon describes changing circumstances england plant animal communities
that occurred with shift from indian european dominance this paper will discuss changes
environment landscape brought about arrival europeans order perceive environmental
changes that took place during this period time must first take glimpse into environment
indian life before europeans came forever changed landscape simplistic land colonial
england mostly dependant ecology well seasonal effects unlike south north england
densely wooded with cold unforgiving winters differences northern southern climate
vegetation played important role lifestyles native american tribes before came americans
survived over centuries careful planning gathering appropriate food supply each tribe
essential survival during winter months land chapter ecology important instrument
shaping lifestyles people tribes differed greatly from other tribes different regions country
lack good soil planting harvest made northern heavily dependent hunting fishing daily
rations there abundance food such deer fish even beaver also women children collected
nuts berries from forests modes travel also differed between northern enjoyed canoeing
since heavily wooded forests permit easy travel they often traveled along rivers canoes
avoid dense tree populated landscape inability cultivate food made indians vulnerable
cold hostile winter lead deaths family members through starvation this point view also
expressed following quote cronon book about savagery civilization indians made poor
natural abundance frontier consequently lived poorly however south american prospered
making good natural abundance contrary above quote live poorly there values taught
them only what they needed moreover what natives needed ecological surrounding tribe
southern cultivated many crops their fields fertile fascinatingly burned down sections
woodland better soil grow vegetation vegetation grew attracting animals area ingenious
tactic provided crops attracted animals hunting southern exercised more mobility because
could grow crops well hunt most indian cultures women worked fields while hunting
winter take heavy toll because generally accumulated more survival through months
ownership existent culture believed things belonged belief major difference between
natures nation chapter arrival found different many ways then left behind viewed
everything commodity described following quote trees country yeeldeth sassafras plant
sovereigne vertue french poxe some late have learnedly written good against plague
many other maladies vines cedars okes ashes beeches birch trees cherie trees bearing fruit
whereof eate hasels wichhasels best wood toher make sope ashes withall walnut maples
holy make bird lime kinde tree unknown bearing fruit like small peare plum cheaib early
accounts dating back describe forests accurately because these accounts were nothing
more than lists were lists commodities resources interest future undertakings often
outrageous claims which give indication come commodities frequently wrote about
scarce resources europe such claims included there enough forest could allow poor live
comfortably throughout entire rivers filled fish could walk across backs enough deer kill
hundred turkeys times size ones these described scarce time unfortunately early settlers
survive first before capitalize proved hard task left half settlers dead rest them dependent
americans early european settlers graciously supplied ungratefully return occupied lands
cleared natives raided gardens following misrepresentation true situation european euro
higher frontier soon improved capitalism practiced ecological sense without have
survived america depended clearings moreover make ecological sense when
demonstrated maize struggling amused revolted invader sloppy even lazy weeding
cultivation compared neat clean fields proves ones sense self sufficient only used what
needed survive poorer frontiersmen trappers hunters farmers than developed techniques
managing other people true conquering others soon different temperaments talents
convictions differed ways main difference beliefs religion believed belonged earth
mother hand christian faith felt placed earth conquer believed rather than part second
main difference role families particular role women each society plant harvest contrast
whole tribe often used field divided among families woman society tend well children
homemaker cooked meals attended children sewed clothing entire family main society
tend hunt meat fish these differences believe lazy went which considered leisure event
however efficient planters would away competing plants weeds order better harvest
changing growth began theory portrait writings access fueled ever growing economy
growth profitable venture nations involved unfortunately profit would cost stake culture
entire century dying being forced move unfamiliar territories brought them diseases such
small common cold killed thousands where susceptible common diseases europe immune
systems where unfamiliar diseases result villages where sometimes wiped single case
small contact whites induced being forced move unfamiliar areas brought stress
starvation dependence used gold rush massive expansion whites near extinction movie
west gold rush described follows gold rush sent hundreds thousands rushing across
continent california oregon thereafter ever quickening pace expansion would lead series
bloody confrontations between whites west episode cheaib pivotal driving lands done
name expansion wealth merely marked beginning destruction extinction since foot upon
america played vital destruction existed here long price according carl abbott traded
something valuable every benefit prosperity group oppression wasting parallel results
commitment rapid growth tendency undervalue anything which cannot quantified human
environmental costs exhaustion must controlled late want burden being last generation
opportunity something global problem fail like leave world knowing grandchildren live
happy lived
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