Borders Big Ideas

  • Expansion of Borders and Influence: The Big Ideas

    The role of geographical, political, and economic expansion in American history, from early colonization to modern globalization.

     

    Theses are some of the important ideas to consider when using the theme of Expansion of Borders and Influence to interpret events and circumstances in American History.

     

    Officially expanding land borders: National borders expand for reasons of military or political advantage, because of population pressures, and/or though historical inheritance.

    Through mutual agreement, by purchase or in exchange of other considerations, especially if there is a desire for a new alliance or population decreases have created surplus lands, or to ensure an ally rather than an enemy occupies land distant from the core population centers.  Concluding a war with another European country that had “official” claim to an area, the victors could gain lands in exchange for peace.  Native American land claims or former alliance agreements would not be considered by the victor.  Citizens moved onto lands illegally and the nation lays claim to the land by right of settlement (and in order to protect her citizens).  Payment may or may not be made to the rightful owners of the land.

     

    Justification for expanding borders: Expansion is justified on the grounds of economic needs, religion, and/or a sense of cultural superiority.

    The new land could be a valuable bargaining chip in future dealings with other European powers.  The discovery of precious metals or raw materials makes the land useful and desirable.  Your own population growth means you require more “room” and those living in contiguous areas are not powerful enough to prevent you from taking the additional space that you need.  The people who exist on the land have no recognized right to be there, this might include failure to meet the legal standards of ownership in your own country, may not practice a “recognized” religion, may not be deemed “persons” so may be removed from the land to properly develop it just like squirrels or deer.  In the 19th century the idea of Manifest Destiny provided a powerful justification based on Americans have a mandate from God to take all the land they could because of the superiority of their religion, race, and form of government. 

     

    Who moves to a border area: Immigration is driven by a combination of factors related to issues of freedom, economics, adventure push immigrants from their existing homes and pull them across borders.

    Individuals and families who are willing to build a new life in an unknown region; bringing with them the diverse skills to build a house, carve out a living, live in isolation or cooperate with distant neighbors in major projects and community building.  Newly freed indentured servants or others who find little opportunity in settled areas might be drawn to a frontier region.   Individuals or groups driven out of established communities because of their religious beliefs or refusal to accept community behavior patterns.   People seeking greater freedom from unfavorable laws, irritating neighbors, heavy taxation, poor working conditions, or whose business collapses.  Individuals who are simply looking for new experiences and adventure and who may have few responsibilities.  Finally, persons whose criminal activities require distance from law enforcement authorities. Reasons behind the move:  Less experienced tradesmen and craftsmen with little capital looking to set up business in an area with little or no competition.  Single younger sons who will not inherit the family farm or business or newly married couples starting out with little but a willingness to work hard.  Middle aged farm families leaving worn out lands or seeking more land for a growing family.  Lawbreakers, fleeing from the law and prosecution (including thieves, murderers, debtors, those falsely accused), some looking to change identity and start over as respectable citizens, some looking to continue their life of crime preying on newly emerging communities and distant homesteads.

     

    Ways to stake your claim in a new frontier: Claims to new lands are made and maintained by purchase, by outright seizure, and/or by right of occupancy.

    One method is to identify the best land without regard for who else might claim the land, mark your boundaries, set up a basic shelter until you have time to create a more permanent structure, cut down trees, and defend your land.  Another method is to check with someone (not necessarily the rightful owner) in the neighborhood, gain permission to settle on the land, negotiate and pay the price, and then begin changing the area.  Another method is to buy an existing piece of land and/or its improvements, usually assuming that the person selling has a right to do so.  One can also violently seize the property of another (also called claim jumping), or “buy” a property whether it is for sale or not.  Once settlers have raised crops, established trade relations, and demonstrated that a region can make money, land speculators can use the law to establish legal rights to lands under informal control.  Settlers can then either leave peacefully or establish neighborhood defense committees (sometimes called unions) to remain on their lands.

     

    Reacting to Neighbors: Interaction with new neighbors involve cooperation, acculturation, and/or exclusion, and/or disregard.

    Some will seek advice (without regard to race or class) on farming, hunting, fishing, weather, unusual local diseases, and exchange information on common problems.  This may lead to acculturation, a mixing of work skills, eating habits, celebrations, medical treatment, and adaptations to culture, clothing, ideas.  Some will seek to ensure that neighbors share all of their own religious, cultural, and educational views, thus creating a “utopia”, a perfect community in which to raise their families (aka exclusionists).  Some will only cooperate with whites, but will include hard working families or individuals regardless of ethnicity or religious background. 

     

    Other kinds of borders:  Moving away from the concept of redrawing a land map, one can cross or explore cultural borders, neighborhood or larger community borders, international borders, religious borders, scientific borders, medical borders, artistic borders, communication borders, spatial borders, intellectual discipline borders, and many more.

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