Choosing Sides on the Frontier in the American Revolution

ISBN: 9780275994297

出版社: Praeger

出版年: 2007-9-30

页数: 200

定价: USD 55.00

装帧: Hardcover

内容简介

In the backcountry, the American Revolution was fought over land rather than democratic ideals. Diverse Indian groups, wealthy land speculators, humbler settlers, fur traders, and the British government all had conflicting designs on the rich lands west of the Appalachian Mountains. Here, Dunn recounts how the primary motive for fighting was not defending farms but acquiring vast tracts of land for later resale at enormous profit. The Native Americans were motivated by the desire to retain control of their homeland. They had little desire to drive the settlers from their farms, but rather wanted to prevent the colonists from taking the land they needed for their own farms, hunting, and villages. The land speculators wanted to use the Revolution as an excuse for killing or driving away the Indians from the land adjacent to the frontier.The British were divided on the issue of involving the Indians in the war, but the majority in Parliament favored use of the Indians and the British army was instructed to instigate attacks on the frontier as a means of weakening the Continental army. Moreover, the settlers on the frontier were divided. Many of the settlers were former soldiers in the British army or the colonial militias. Many supported Britain and were forced to flee their farms and businesses to Detroit and Fort Niagara.