Agricultural fields were cleared first by girdling trees and then burning the area. Without draft animals or plows, agriculture with stone or wood implements was limited to the tillable soils of floodplains, where spring flooding helped renew soil fertility. Large native populations developed in much of the lower South because the more sophisticated agricultural system produced more food. The adopted intensive agricultural practices from Mesoamerica influenced the landscape in the Southeast dramatically. The cultivation of the tropical maize, flint corn, and beans along the Mississippi River and in the Gulf States marks the beginning of the Mississippian culture. Knowledgeable humans skillfully modified the landscapes to support a population numbering in the millions. The landscapes that the first Europeans encountered were not undisturbed, dense forests as many people today envision. Read this excerpted account of the history of agriculture in southeastern America before the arrival of Europeans.įor a minimum of 12,000 years, Native Americans (or Indians as was the European term for Native Americans) had been skillfully manipulating the environment, primarily with fire. Sir John Rolfe brought tobacco seeds with him to the colony in 1612, which turned the settlement into a profitable endeavor for the Virginia Company.Ĭontrary to what many people believe today, the land the first Europeans saw in America did not consist entirely of untouched land and pristine forests. Help arrived in May 1610 with the arrival of Sir Thomas Gates, the new governor. During the winter of 1609-1610, known as the Starving Time, 80-90% of the settlers had perished due to disease and starvation. While the relationship between the settlers and the natives was tenuous, the Powhatans sent food to Jamestown Settlement when disease from drinking salt water and drought conditions devastated the population. A triangular fort was constructed by June 15 to protect the settlers from the local Powhatan Tribe, whose hunting grounds were located on the settlement area. The area was chosen because it was far enough inland and surrounded by water on three sides, which made it easily defensible against Spanish invaders, and was not currently inhabited by native Americans. How did the practices of this new kind of government support a revolution in agricultural science, technology, and education? How did agriculture help the United States of America become a prosperous, thriving nation and major world power? Consider the answers to these questions as you enjoy "Growing a Nation: the Story of American Agriculture".Īrriving on three ships, The Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery, 104 men and boys arrived from England and named the settlement after their king, James I. Their system of government is the foundation for this prosperity established through the good fortune of free, plentiful land and a century long experiment in democracy. Their hard work earns them cash, free time, and a life beyond basic needs. Vast, rich lands set the stage for people to make their dreams a reality. The New World means a new life - a life of possiblities.Īcross the Atlantic Ocean, in America, historic events are shaping an exciting way of life for common citizens of the United States. You are willing to take the risk because you want to start a new life where you will be free to work hard on your own land. Imagine you are on a journey to America, leaving behind everything you have known for untold dangers ahead.
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