ipl-logo

Brief History Of Nature And The American Consciousness

701 Words3 Pages

By the time the settlers first made it in America, the relationship between man and nature is the central part of being an American. In “A Brief History of Nature and the American Consciousness” by Joshua Johns, he speaks of the New World and how European settlers chose to ruin the wilderness in order to achieve a comfortable life. Utilizing the images “View from Mount Holyoke, Northampton, Massachusetts, after a Thunderstorm” (normally referred to as “The Oxbow”), painted in eighteen thirty six by Thomas Cole; “American Progress”, composed in eighteen seventy two by John Gast. Lastly the picture that was taken in the year nineteen fifty by William Garrett. The Americans vision of the New World has changed over time. Going from fear of the barbaric wild, next optimism, then with the feeling of regret. …show more content…

When the settlers first arrived in America, Johns explains that they were scared of the wilderness surrounding them. However at the same time the Europeans felt a rush of hope to take this savage place, and transform it into a civilized home. Peering at the Oxbow for the first time, there is a storm cloud that starts as gray then gradually turning to black. This stands for the terror that was once felt when settlers first laid eyes upon America. Moving right, notice that the farther one goes the more brighter the canvas is; giving the thought of hope and happiness that is yet to come. An image that expresses the optimism is titled “The American Progress”. Attending at the painting straight on, the first object that is easily noticed would be the flying women that has significantly more detail than the rest of the picture. It will be seen that in one hand, she is holding a school

Show More
Related

Summary Of Part One Of American Colonies By Alan Taylor

380 Words | 2 Pages

In Part One of American Colonies, author Alan Taylor accentuates the natural disharmonies that transpired due to humanity, throughout the colonization of the New World. Taylor attributes humans as the most endangering species to the environment, both Native Americans and the settlers. Prior to and during the settlement of the North American colonies, all of humanity’s survival depended on the environment and how they used it. If the Natives or the settlers did not use their surrounding to the fullest advantage, themselves or others potentially could die. The first example of environmental demise that Taylor illustrated was the “…the extinction [of] two-thirds of all New World species…including the giant beaver, mammoth…” and others,” (Taylor 8).

Read More

Review Of Facing East From Indian Country By Daniel Richter

1184 Words | 5 Pages

Facing East from Indian Country by Daniel Richter is--without question--one of the most effective studies of Native American history. Richter’s previous book, The Ordeal of the Longhouse, which viewed the European invasion of northeastern America from the perspective of the Iroquois peoples of modern New York a similar awareness of early American history. Facing East challenges the instilled perspective of westward expansion from the early sixteenth century well into the nineteenth. By viewing the early European-Indian encounter through the eyes of the Native Americans, this revolutionary examination intends to “turn familiar tales inside out, to show how old documents might be read in fresh ways...and to outline stories of North America”

Read More

Summary Of Changes In The Land By William Cronon

1057 Words | 5 Pages

In the book, Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England, author William Cronon address the permanent environmental changes and concerns that took place at the hands of Native Americans and colonists in New England. With references to Henry David Thoreau, the first part of the book lays the ground for the reader to feel nostalgic towards the original beauty of New England that was assumed to exist prior to when the Europeans arrived. Cronon expands upon this imagery of New England environmental beauty through an arrangement of sources by presenting the drastic landscape changes that happened after the interaction of two different civilizations. Extensive evidence from this book shows how Native Americans were slowly

Read More

A Comparison Of The Lewis And Clark Expedition

1887 Words | 8 Pages

The migration of Americans to the west was a good thing for innovation and building up the United States as a country, but the Native Americans who lived in these lands were changed forever. Any Native Americans found in lands where United States citizens wanted land was immediately excavated from their land and brought to an Indian reservation of some kind. Overtime though, these Indian reservations began to limit due to the rising population in Americans during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. “They [Lewis and Clark] provided valuable information about the topography, the biological sciences, the ecology, and ethnic and linguistic studies of the American Indian. The mysteries of

Read More

Summary Of The Republic Of Nature By Mark Feiige

1475 Words | 6 Pages

Feige's goal is not only to explain how exactly American History is rooted in nature, but also to stress the presence of nature in historical events that is often overlooked or entirely ignored by other historians. Throughout the book, the reader is made clear this is Feige’s primary goal of the text, demonstrating the importance of environmental history of the United States and prove that nature’s role in America’s past is more vast and influential than what is thought. Fiege continuously explains how historical events are sometimes entirely shaped by nature and proves so by exploring the geography, topography, weather, disease spread, and other features occurring in nature and how they

Read More

How Was Ecologically Different From New England In The 1600s?

270 Words | 2 Pages

Elaborating on concepts from the previous chapters, Cronon discusses how and why New England in the 1800s was ecologically different from New England in the 1600s. The author lists many relevant issues which influenced the ecological change: deforestation, dams, crop disease, European pests, and so forth. Cronon states that there is a clear difference between New England before and after European colonization, but stresses the dangers of analyzing ecological change simply by contrasting two landscapes (before and after European colonization). Cronon discusses how disease helped to promote European expansion, and how economic and ecological imperialisms reinforced each other. He also mentions that Indians continuously evolved, and an earlier

Read More

Trail Of Tears Trail Of Tears Dbq Analysis

386 Words | 2 Pages

The walk to the new land was very dangerous and many died. The main idea of the image is to show that the trail of tears was one of the most harsh decisions that really upset the native americans. This document helps support my idea that positive does not make up for the negative because even though the US benefited by getting more land in a more convenient location, a ton of Native Americans died which is very

Read More

Bethia's First Colonial Home Analysis

812 Words | 4 Pages

This creates a strong visualization for the readers and gives them a better idea of the methods used in the time as well as a more in depth view of the settler’s natures, an animalistic one. From a personal view I find the settlers to be distrustful and greedy to the point they would betray their own word for personal gain, that

Read More

John Smith Description Of Va Analysis

782 Words | 4 Pages

Primary Source 1 Assignment During John Smith’s, journey to the New World, there are many depictions and accounts of what he encountered during his time in Virginia. Which could have ended abruptly at any single moment because of the difficulties he had to experience in his quest. As he faced adversity through this journey to the New World we witness first hand John Smiths, encounter with the Native Americans and settler’s way of life in the early 1600’s. Looking further into John Smith’s, depiction into the New World he first steps foot onto Jamestown, and is immediately struck in awe as he begins to survey the land and the people.

Read More

Green Light In The Great Gatsby

937 Words | 4 Pages

The green light initially conveys the irresistible allure of the promise of prosperity in America. The assurance of success and opportunity carries throughout the green light’s presence, with its green hue representing growth and renewal. To those interested in America, the radiant emerald color acts as a beacon to lure them into the seemingly guaranteed success, so long as they work towards their goal with passion. Green color even calls for the old American settlers, which “[flowers…] for Dutch sailors’ eyes—a fresh, green breast of the new world” (Fitzgerald 180). Yet, the green light also represents the superficiality and illusion of the American Dream, with its blinding radiance and deceptive allure.

Read More

Native Americans: Environmental Wisdom And Beliefs

375 Words | 2 Pages

They thought of it just as much as the animals land as they did their own land. Many Native Americans had an appreciation of nature’s beauty as intense as any ecologist today. First came the Pilgrims in the early 1600’s. They were followed by Puritans in the 1630s and these Puritans left their mark on the new land, becoming the most dynamic

Read More

American Natural Identity Dbq

642 Words | 3 Pages

Americans Natural Identity In the late 18 hundreds, Americans witnessed the destruction and abuse of their countries nature and resources. This destruction sparked a new age, ready to establish the conservation and preservation of America's backcountry. Legislation, such as newly declared laws and acts, assisted in creating a new sense of American identity and nationality, strongly relating to nature and national parks. Individuals, such as Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir, were influential and essential within this movement.

Read More

Manifest Destiny By John L. O Sulliv Article Analysis

493 Words | 2 Pages

The painting “American Progress,” shows indians leaving their land and settlers behind them who seem to be pushing the indians away. There is also a woman with wings holding wire that is connected to power poles. She can be seen as a symbol of westward expansion because she is bringing power towards the west. The illustrator seems to be supportive of expansion, and believes the americans wanted to obtain all the land they could. The

Read More

How Did Native Americans Contribute To The Rise Of Industrialization

537 Words | 3 Pages

The development of agriculture and the rise of industrialization generated new cultures and innovations in the new world. Native people in early America developed cultural distinct , men were in charge of the fishing, hunting, jobs that were more exposed to violence, and the women stayed closed to the village, farming, and child bearing. The way of life possessed by natives Americans did not compel them to conquer and transform new land. As opposed to European colonizers, Native Americans subscribed to a more “animistic” understanding of nature. In which they believed that plants and animals are not commodities, they are something to be respected rather than used.

Read More

John Muir's Fascination With Nature

529 Words | 3 Pages

Wordsworth and Muir express their fascination with nature using imagery and mood. In “Calypso Borealis”, John Muir states that he finds himself “glorying in the fresh cool beauty and charm of the bog and meadow heathworts, grasses, carices, ferns, mosses, liverworts displayed in boundless profusion” (Muir). The words “boundless profusion” appeals to the sense of sight and helps us imagine the scene and all the bountiful natural beauty of the place. The image shows Muir’s relationship with nature because it demonstrates his overwhelming, nearly spiritual, experience with nature. In the poem “I wandered lonely as a cloud”,

Read More

More about Brief History Of Nature And The American Consciousness

Related Topics

Open Document