During the course of the seventeenth century; Europeans and Native Americans came together on the western edge of England's North American empire for a variety of purposes; from trading goods and information to making alliances and war. This blurred and constantly shifting frontier region; known as the backcountry; existed just beyond England's imperial reach on the North American mainland. It became an area of opportunity; intrigue; and conflict for the diverse peoples who lived there.In At the Edge of Empire; Eric Hinderaker and Peter C. Mancall describe the nature of the complex interactions among these interests; examining colorful and sometimes gripping instances of familiarity and uneasiness; acceptance and animosity; and cooperation and conflict; from individual encounters to such vast undertakings as the Seven Years' War. Over time; the European settlers who established farms and trading posts in the backcountry displaced the region's Native inhabitants. Warfare and disease each took a horrifying toll across Indian country; making it easier for immigrants to establish themselves on lands once peopled only by Native Americans. Eventually; these pioneers established economically; culturally; and politically self-sufficient communities that increasingly resented London's claims of sovereignty. As Hinderaker and Mancall show; these resentments helped to shape the ideals that guided the colonists during the American Revolution.The first book in a new Johns Hopkins series; Regional Perspectives on Early America; At the Edge of Empire explores one of British America's most intriguing regions; both widening and deepening our understanding of North America's colonial experience.
#3145662 in Books The Johns Hopkins University Press 1992-09-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.50 x 6.50 x 1.25l; #File Name: 0801843456344 pages
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