Term
| Why was there conflict over land in the Wyoming Valley? |
|
Definition
| Both Connecticut and Pennsylvania claimed that they owned the region because of the colonial charters from King Charles II that had already led to citizens from both states settling in the area. Settlers from the two states went to war, burning crops and destroying farm buildings. |
|
|
Term
| What problem did Congress face in the Ohio Valley? |
|
Definition
| Hunters and trappers had already moved into the area even before the Revolutionary War, and agreements regarding who could settle where were difficult to enforce that far west. During the war, the encroachment settlers threatened relations with the Delaware Indians causing the militia to cross the Ohio River to break up settlements. The government even built a fort to try to keep squatters out of the area. |
|
|
Term
| Why did Congress ask states to give up their western lands? |
|
Definition
| Because of requests from General Putnam for land grants to veterans, to address the conflicts between states and to better control settlement. |
|
|
Term
| What was the goal of the Ohio Company? |
|
Definition
| The goal was to raise money to buy land in the West so that they could settle the region (not to speculate on land values). |
|
|
Term
| How did the Ohio Company try to prevent speculation? |
|
Definition
| By limiting an individual to ownership of no more than five shares in the company, which was 0.5% ownership. In addition they put structures into place to prevent fraud and distributed land by lottery. |
|
|
Term
| What did Reverend Manasseh Cutler learn from Thomas Hutchins, the United States Geographer General? |
|
Definition
| He learned that the best place to locate a settlement was on the Muskingum River at the confluence with the Ohio River. |
|
|
Term
| Why couldn’t Cutler and Congress come to an agreement? |
|
Definition
| Because there was not a satisfactory land ordinance and the high land prices set by Congress that would make land in Ohio too expensive for many individuals. |
|
|
Term
| What was happening to the quality of land in New England? |
|
Definition
| The quality of the land was declining and becoming less productive while the population kept growing. Farmers had not developed sustainable farming methods but just moved their fields to more productive land until much of the land had been used up. |
|
|
Term
| What deal did Cutler eventually make with Congress? |
|
Definition
| Under terms of the Northwest Ordinance, the Ohio Company paid Congress two payments of $500,000 each in return for the full grant of 1,500,000 acres. |
|
|
Term
| How did the directors plan the settlement of Marietta? |
|
Definition
| They chose a spot at the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers and laid out the city in a rectangular form of oblong plots, divided into house lots. Next to the city were 1,000 eight acre lots that were in the first land lottery drawing. Each person granted a city lot was responsible for clearing the street next to the property. |
|
|
Term
| Why did Putnam order that a fort be built immediately? |
|
Definition
| He was convinced that the Native Americans would not be peaceful for very long so they needed protection for the surveyors and settlers. |
|
|
Term
| What evidence was there of danger from the Native Americans? |
|
Definition
| Native Americans who came to Marietta seemed to be friendly, but there were reports of attacks elsewhere on the Ohio River. |
|
|
Term
| What impact did the threat of attacks have on settlement? |
|
Definition
| All men over 15 had to appear armed each Sabbath and someone was on guard every night. They also named officers to head up the militia and police. It was also determined that the eight acre plots were too dangerous to farm and could not be adequately protected without a better plan. The security measures slowed down the work of surveying and building houses. Reports of attack also discouraged settlers from coming to or staying in Marietta. |
|
|
Term
| Why did relations on the frontier get worse? |
|
Definition
| Though Congress completed a treaty with Native Americans in 1789, the frontier grew less secure because frustrated residents of Kentucky began retaliating against Native American tribes. |
|
|
Term
| What happened in 1790 and 1791 to scare the inhabitants of Marietta? |
|
Definition
| Americans lost control of the frontier. Josiah Harmar and 1,500 men were defeated after attacking tribes in northwestern Ohio. Then in 1791 a settlement 30 miles from Marietta was attacked and 12 men murdered. The Marietta inhabitants were vulnerable to attack and the Native American tribes were more confident after defeating Harmar’s army. |
|
|
Term
| How did the threats to the inhabitants change the way they lived? |
|
Definition
| They were forced to build more defenses and to combine their settlements. Most of their effort was focused on protecting themselves. |
|
|
