Virtual Tour Detail
A Tale of Two Cultures
The Natives
- preserved and sustained the land.
- held land in common.
- did not build fences which destroyed the habitat of Native game animals.
- used fire to manage and sustain planting and hunting grounds.
- planted mixtures of crops as needed.
- initially believed they were agreeing to share land when they signed their marks on deeds.
The Settlers
- "improved" the land with farms, buildings, and towns.
- believed in the efficiency of private farms.
- built fences to prevent English cattle from wandering.
- clear-cut the forests.
- neatly plowed and planted large fields.
- claimed they had bought all rights to formerly native lands.