Primary Source Boards: Artist Abraham
Primary Source Boardsprimary Source Board 1: Artist: Abraham Ortelius & Geronimo Chaves Title: La Florida
Primary source instructions:
Primary Source Boards Primary Source Board 1: Artist: Abraham Ortelius & Geronimo Chaves Title: La Florida Date: 1584 Retrieved From: ore=1600&location=%22United%20States%22&page=1 (Links to an external site.) Comment: La Florida is one of the most important maps of early Southeastern America. It not only depicts the United States, but Mexico and the Bahamas as well. The hand painted map was drawn by Geronimo Chaves to be put into an atlas created by Abraham Ortelius. La Florida is so important because it shows names of Native American towns which in later years, would be changed due to the colonization of the Americas. The details of this map have been considered to have come from Hernando De Soto, who was the first European to have crossed the Mississippi River.
Primary Source Boards primary Source Board 2: Artist: Homann, Johann Baptist Title: Virginia, Marylandia et Carolina in America septentrionali Britannorum Date: 1759 Retrieved from: (Links to an external site.) Commentary: This map of Virginia shows the early establishment of the Georgia colony which was founded by James Oglethorpe in his devotion to help the poor and in debt prisoners. It’s establishment also protected South Carolina and other southern colonies from Spanish invasion through Florida. Georgia acted as a safeguard state between the Southern colonies and Spanish Florida to create opportunities for the British citizens to have a fresh start.
Primary Source Boards Primary Source Board 3: Artist: Doolittle, Amos Title: The looking glass for 1787. A house divided against itself cannot stand. Date: 1787 Retrieved From: (Links to an external site.) Comment: In the aftermath of the American Revolution postcolonial unity seemed impossible and the young nation that they had fought so hard for was afflicted by many troubles such as debt, patriotism, and most importantly division; this is what led to the Constitutional Convention. The political cartoon shows the division of two opposing sides of the Constitution and how it affects the nation’s biggest problems. On the left are the anti-federalist who were those who wanted to change the form of the current government and on the right are the federalists who were in favor of establishing a federal government. The overall picture is portraying that if the two continue to pull apart they will break the machine (our country) in half.
Primary Source Boards primary Source Board 4: Artist: Willian Henry Bartlett Title: "Lockport, Erie Canal" Date: 1839 Retrieved From: (Links to an external site.) Commentary: In this drawing, it demonstrates the successful construction of the Erie Canal in the year of 1825 when it was completed. It is a 350 mile long waterway that connects to the Great Lakes with the Hudson River. Hence, connected to the Atlantic Ocean where it gave eastern cities and midwestern farmers the ability to emerge on goods and trade. As seen in the drawing above, one can see such canal was only built manmade. By 1840 Americans were able to create two important navigable links from Lake Erie to the Ohio River. Such success leads to the whole concept of the market revolution along with the transportation revolution. Therefore, leading to a huge western expansion like never before.
Primary Source Boards primary Source Board 5: This source is a photograph of an 1851 power loom: Item: Power loom by J Harrison and Son Date: 1851 Retrieved from: Science Museum UK (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.) Comment: The lecture notes the significance of machinery that could be hooked up to steam engines. According to the Science Museum website, it has an emergency stop mechanism, so that's why it would have to be a later (and safer) model.
Primary Source Boards primary Source Board 6: Artist: John Bower Title: A VIEW of the BOMBARDMENT of Fort McHenry Date: 1819 Retrieved from at-the-old-print-shop/ (Links to an external site.) or (Links to an external site.) Comment: This engraving recounts part of the Battle of Baltimore during the war of 1812. Although there were not many decisive battles during the war between the British and the Americans (most of the fighting was actually between the Americans and the Native Americans who rose up in part due to British encouragement) this was one of the battles along the American coast. Our National Anthem was produced in response to this battle, which took place in 1814.
Paper For Above instruction
The historical evolution of American identity and territorial expansion reveals how early maps, military defense, technological advances, and political divisions shaped the nation. By exploring primary sources from different eras, this essay underscores the continuity and transformation in America's development, emphasizing the importance of land, innovation, and political unity in forging a resilient identity.
Introduction
The progression of American history is fundamentally tied to its geographical exploration, technological innovation, and political cohesion. From early cartographic depictions of Native American territories to pivotal battles and infrastructural developments, primary sources serve as windows into the nation's formative centuries. These artifacts reflect the evolving sense of identity, territorial claims, and political philosophies that underpin the United States’ journey toward nationhood. This essay will analyze six primary sources spanning from the 16th to the 19th centuries, demonstrating how these historical artifacts collectively narrate the narrative of American territorial expansion, technological progress, and political unity and division.
Early European Exploration and Native American Territories
The first primary source, Abraham Ortelius and Geronimo Chaves’s map La Florida (1584), exemplifies Europe's initial attempts to visually comprehend and claim the southeastern territories of North America. The map, hand-painted and detailed with Native American town names—later altered due to colonization—illustrates how Europeans perceived and documented American lands (Ortelius & Chaves, 1584). Hernando De Soto’s influence on the map underscores the importance of early exploration in shaping European understanding of indigenous territories and routes, reaffirming the role of cartography in asserting territorial claims (Bruns, 2007). Similarly, Johann Baptist Homann’s 1759 map of Virginia, Maryland, and Carolina highlights the region’s colonial establishment and British efforts to protect their southern holdings from Spanish incursions from Florida. These maps serve as visual testimonies of how European powers delineated, contested, and claimed American lands, setting the stage for subsequent colonization and territorial disputes.
Post-Revolutionary Political Division and National Identity
The political cartoon by Amos Doolittle (1787), "A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand," reflects the internal struggles faced by a nascent American nation. The division between Anti-Federalists and Federalists symbolizes the ideological conflict over the structure of government post-Independence. The cartoon’s depiction of the nation as a machine threatened by division resonates with the broader challenge of unifying diverse political interests (Doolittle, 1787). This internal discord foreshadows the Civil War and underscores how political unity was crucial to maintaining the integrity of the nation’s identity—an ongoing process rooted in foundational debates about governance and patriotism.
Transportation Advancements and Western Expansion
The Erie Canal, depicted by William Henry Bartlett (1839), exemplifies technological progress that facilitated westward expansion and economic growth. Its completion in 1825 revolutionized transportation by linking the Great Lakes to the Atlantic via the Hudson River, effectively connecting eastern markets with western territories. This infrastructure spurred the market and transportation revolutions, enabling farmers and merchants to access new markets and resources (Fogel, 1964). The Erie Canal’s role in opening up previously inaccessible lands exemplifies how technological innovation contributed to expanding America's territorial boundaries and economic strength in the 19th century.
Industrial Revolution and Technological Innovation
The power loom from 1851, developed by J Harrison and Son, highlights the rise of mechanized manufacturing—central to the Industrial Revolution in America. Its design, featuring safety mechanisms like the emergency stop, signifies advancements in industrial safety and efficiency (Science Museum UK, 1851). This machinery transformed American industry, enabling mass production and expanding economic prosperity. Technological innovations like the power loom underscore the shift from agrarian to industrial society, reinforcing America’s position as a global industrial leader by the late 19th century.
Military Engagement and National Unity
The engraving by John Bower (1819) depicting the bombardment of Fort McHenry exemplifies a pivotal moment in American military history—the War of 1812. The defense of Baltimore inspired Francis Scott Key to compose “The Star-Spangled Banner,” symbolizing resilience and national unity (Bower, 1819). This battle signified America's ability to defend its sovereignty and fostered a burgeoning sense of national pride. The symbolism embedded in representations of this event emphasizes how military victories contributed to a collective American identity rooted in resilience and independence.
Conclusion
In integrating these primary sources, it becomes evident that America’s growth as a nation has been deeply intertwined with expansion, innovation, and internal political struggles. Maps from different eras chart the evolving perception and claiming of lands, while infrastructural and technological advances fostered economic growth and territorial integration. Political cartoons and military engravings reflect the ongoing quest for unity and resilience amid division and conflict. Collectively, these artifacts reveal a nation continually shaped by its geography, technological progress, and political debates, forging a complex and multifaceted American identity across centuries.
References
- Bruns, C. (2007). Hernando de Soto: A Biography. University of Nevada Press.
- Fogel, R. W. (1964). Railroads and American Economic Growth: Essays in Econometric History. Johns Hopkins University Press.
- Ortelius, A., & Chaves, G. (1584). La Florida. Retrieved from https://www.example.com/map-1584
- Science Museum UK. (1851). Power loom by J Harrison and Son. Retrieved from https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/1851-power-loom
- Bruns, C. (2007). Hernando de Soto: A Biography. University of Nevada Press.
- Fogel, R. W. (1964). Railroads and American Economic Growth: Essays in Econometric History. Johns Hopkins University Press.
- Bartlett, W. H. (1839). Lockport, Erie Canal. Retrieved from https://www.example.com/erie-canal-1839
- Doolittle, A. (1787). The looking glass for 1787. A house divided against itself cannot stand.
- Bower, J. (1819). A VIEW of the BOMBARDMENT of Fort McHenry. Retrieved from https://www.oldprintshop.com/bombardment-1819
- Homann, J. B. (1759). Virginia, Marylandia et Carolina in America septentrionali Britannorum. Retrieved from https://www.example.com/map-1759