RE: We used to know how to stick it to big business....
February 29, 2012 at 9:01 pm
(This post was last modified: February 29, 2012 at 9:04 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
Other nations attempts to colonize the New World followed a similar pattern. The Dutch established an outpost on Manhatten Island around 1613, and by 1621 the West Indies Company was chartered (ostensibly giving the company the authority to colonize nearly everywhere in both America and Africa). The first permanent Dutch settlement was established in 1623. They operated on roughly the same principles as the British colonies to the north. Few settlers could be found on those terms. By 1629 the West Indies Company began issuing charters to Patroons (owners of companies). Interestingly, one type of charter gave a patroon title to 16 linear miles along one side of the Hudson as well as an indefinite distance into the interior. There was a catch. To recieve such a grant the patroon was required to bring 50 families to the New World within the span of 4 years. Interestingly, the dutch required patroons to purchase land from the natives, which was a requirement that no one else seemed to feel was necessary at this point (or indeed at any point). By 1650 these requirements had been gradually modified and land was available for individual settlers. The native populations put considerable pressure on the dutch settlements, and the english conquest of the territory has been considered a relief for farmers (who had been suffering from a lack of protection under Dutch governance). The english continued granting large estates, and by 1764 a mere 30 families held most of the province that was not controlled by the Iriquois. 3 of these estates exceeded 1 million acres in size. The farmers themselves had largely become nothing more than tenants by the Revolutionary War.
There were other systems of land ownership that were attempted at various times in various places in the New World. The town grant, and military bounty being two notable methods. Under a town grant system, a set number of men would agree to establish a new settlement together, which would then be planned by a supervisory committee, with the land then transferring from the state to the individuals. This helped to keep the settlements fairly close together to encourage trade. The military bounty began when, in 1646, Virginia gave 100 acres of land to the commander at Middle Plantation. Some land grants were offered with the requirement that settlements be built on open terrain, and filled with armed soldiers. Although few farmers availed themselves of such grants they were used as precedent for later grants during and after the Revolutionary War.
The end result of all of these land policies, at times too restrictive, and at others ineffective, was a steady drift towards pioneer regions of the NE US. Pennsylvania was a favorite of the early american farmer, and by 1726 more than 100,000 settlers in Pennsylvania were officially squatters. Faced with such vast numbers of settlers with no title to their land, the colony enacted a policy whereby they recognized "the right to preemption, with later payment" sometime around 1750. The payments they would later demand did not suit the early settlers, and the colony continued to increase the price for land until the colonists flooded into Maryland and Virginia, where land was perceived to be more reasonably priced. Five pound sterling or less per 100 acres.
The French and Indian War effectively ended this first wave of westward colonization, and left Great Britain as the only power from the Atlantic to the Mississippi. After this expensive war, hoping to avoid further conflict with the Native Tribes; and lacking a unified land policy King George II issued the Royal Proclamation of 1763. Pioneers could no longer claim unfettered rights to the land of the New World. Those farmers who were already beyond the borders of this new policy (and subsequent revision in 1764) needed to be forced eastward, as they rarely moved at the whim of the crown. Each and every policy implemented to achieve this goal increased animosity towards the crown. By this time the settlers had acclimated themselves to the climate, crops and methods that allowed them to form the base of a completely independent system of agriculture. It had taken a span of time from first landing, to just two years before the american revolution, but there was now such a thing as an american farm.
There were other systems of land ownership that were attempted at various times in various places in the New World. The town grant, and military bounty being two notable methods. Under a town grant system, a set number of men would agree to establish a new settlement together, which would then be planned by a supervisory committee, with the land then transferring from the state to the individuals. This helped to keep the settlements fairly close together to encourage trade. The military bounty began when, in 1646, Virginia gave 100 acres of land to the commander at Middle Plantation. Some land grants were offered with the requirement that settlements be built on open terrain, and filled with armed soldiers. Although few farmers availed themselves of such grants they were used as precedent for later grants during and after the Revolutionary War.
The end result of all of these land policies, at times too restrictive, and at others ineffective, was a steady drift towards pioneer regions of the NE US. Pennsylvania was a favorite of the early american farmer, and by 1726 more than 100,000 settlers in Pennsylvania were officially squatters. Faced with such vast numbers of settlers with no title to their land, the colony enacted a policy whereby they recognized "the right to preemption, with later payment" sometime around 1750. The payments they would later demand did not suit the early settlers, and the colony continued to increase the price for land until the colonists flooded into Maryland and Virginia, where land was perceived to be more reasonably priced. Five pound sterling or less per 100 acres.
The French and Indian War effectively ended this first wave of westward colonization, and left Great Britain as the only power from the Atlantic to the Mississippi. After this expensive war, hoping to avoid further conflict with the Native Tribes; and lacking a unified land policy King George II issued the Royal Proclamation of 1763. Pioneers could no longer claim unfettered rights to the land of the New World. Those farmers who were already beyond the borders of this new policy (and subsequent revision in 1764) needed to be forced eastward, as they rarely moved at the whim of the crown. Each and every policy implemented to achieve this goal increased animosity towards the crown. By this time the settlers had acclimated themselves to the climate, crops and methods that allowed them to form the base of a completely independent system of agriculture. It had taken a span of time from first landing, to just two years before the american revolution, but there was now such a thing as an american farm.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
