New England Home

Native Americans had a different approach to land than Europeans. Settlers in the New World were often surprised to find a lack of land ownership among Native peoples. Europeans were familiar with the  idea of common grazing land that entire villages used, but individuals also owned plots of land and livestock.

In the New England area, Native Americans settled in advantageous areas near water and game, and may have used fire to burn off forest for agricultural use. They cleared land by girdling–removing a strip of bark around the circumference of trees to kill them–or by cutting trees down. After living in an area for ten years or so, the land and game would become scarcer, and bands would move on to new land. The old land was left empty for up to fifty years to allow a return of nutrients, and then might be used again.

White settlers, in contrast, wanted to stay on a particular plot of land  that they owned. This led to many problems as they depleted the soil with intense agriculture, and contended with a growing population. The only way to give everyone property  was to push out to new lands. Unfortunately, settlers acquired additional  land at the expense of the Native Americans already occupying the newly desirable territory.

Girdled Trees

Native American Farming

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