The Founding of New England: The American Background
- James Truslow Adams
- Jul 27, 2024
- 4 min read
The country that now occupies a significant part of North America reflects the dual nature of its history. The story of the United States can be approached from the perspective of a federal nation or from the viewpoint of its individual political entities. While these states are separate entities, they are geographically separated by mostly artificial boundaries, with natural frontiers like the sea, deserts, mountains, rivers, forests, and swamps playing a minimal role in defining these boundaries. The dissolution of the federal tie would reveal the artificial nature of these limits if the united commonwealths were to become independent and potentially hostile towards each other.
As settlement expanded across the continent, communities tended to group themselves into sections based on common modes of thought, ways of life, and economic needs. While the histories of individual states are localized arbitrarily like county histories, the stories of the sections that the country has divided into possess an organic unity shaped by life forces. Some of these divisions have endured over time, while others have changed with the country's development.
During the colonial period, when the English inhabited a narrow strip of land between the sea and the Appalachian mountains, the colonists fell into three natural groups - New England, the Middle, and the Southern regions. These groupings were determined by climatic, economic, and cultural factors. As the frontier expanded west of the mountains, another division emerged between East and West, or old settlement and frontier, which persisted with an expanding East and a receding West. Economic and political ideas of these new sections contrasted sharply, while the distinctions between the original extreme eastern groups continued, leading to a division between the North and the South.
In the New England group, despite minor differences, there is unusual homogeneity. The section as a whole forms a geographical unit where a common life based on similar economic, political, and religious foundations has created a distinct cultural strain in the nation's life. The "New England idea" and "New England type" have been clearly defined and persistent, influencing the entire nation despite some changes over time.
Effective natural boundaries play a crucial role in fostering the life of primitive peoples or civilized colonies. Diffusion over an unlimited space weakens the hold on the land and the growth of the state, while retarding the development of elements essential for civilized life. The possession of a limited and protected area during the settlement period by the English, naturally restricted by the sea and mountains, resulted in the development of compact colonies compared to the expansive empire of the French. The Appalachian barrier protected and concentrated the efforts of the English, extending from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Alabama, with significant forest barriers in the northern part of Maine creating effective obstacles to travel.
The coastal plain, a prominent feature from New Jersey southward, is largely absent in New England due to a subsidence of the shore, leading to numerous islands, bays, and headlands along the rugged coast. The presence of good harbors, particularly in Portland, was offset by the difficulty of land communication along the coast due to its rugged nature. The economic and political influence of the coast depended on its relations with the interior in terms of communication, soil, and products.
During the colonial period, communication primarily occurred along waterways due to poor road conditions, with rivers serving as the main highways for transportation. The lack of inland navigation concentrated settlement near the coast or on the lower navigable reaches of rivers. River transport played a crucial role in fostering home manufactures as opposed to importations from England, leading to the localization of industry and restricting areas of distribution.
The New England landscape, characterized by diverse natural features, featured hills, mountains, uplands, and lowlands, shaped by geological processes over time. The soil, predominantly of glacial origin, varied in fertility across different regions, influencing settlement patterns and agricultural practices. The rugged uplands posed challenges for subsistence farming, leading to migration to more fertile lands like the prairies in the West.
The Indian tribes encountered in New England were in the lower stage of barbarism, with social organization based on clans and tribes. The clan was the primary unit, with a common ancestor, shared religious observances, and political rights. Tribes, composed of several clans, had common worship, a specific territory, and a tribal council. The economic life of the natives revolved around hunting, fishing, and agriculture, with seasonal migrations for food resources.
The Indian culture was characterized by animistic religious beliefs, with a focus on magic powers and spirits. The religious rites were performed by priests, distinct from medicine men who established relations with magic powers through personal experiences. The Indian tribes in New England were part of the Algonquin stock, with a high degree of unity across the region.
The contact between the settlers and the natives led to an inevitable conflict due to differences in civilizations and land competition. The treatment of the natives by the settlers and the ethical implications of colonization raise complex moral questions. The clash of races and civilizations in history presents challenges that go beyond individual ethics, reflecting broader issues of justice and morality in the context of historical processes.
The passing of the Indian tribes and the impact of colonization highlight the moral dilemmas and complexities of human history. The conflicts between higher and lower civilizations, the struggle for existence, and the mysteries of vanished races underscore the challenges of understanding the ethical dimensions of historical events.
Notes and Sources
While this work was originally produced by James Truslow Adams in 192, its language has been slightly edited for readability by Spencer Morgenweck. Much effort has been put to ensure that its message has not been compromised. For the original text, check below.
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