Worlds Turned Upside Down Episode 7: The Divide
May 2, 2024
Explore the ambitious efforts to map North America as Britain sought to reorder its colonies post-war. Delve into the imaginary boundaries drawn and the military standards for surveying. Hear about the role of the Haudenosaunee in negotiations and the complexities of colonial resistance. Discover how Native leaders pragmatically navigated land sales and the ramifications of treaties like Fort Niagara. The podcast paints a vivid picture of diplomacy, boundary-making, and the clash of cultures in this transformative era.
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Stewart's Survival Through Cherokee Friendship
- Captain John Stewart used personal relationships with Cherokee leaders to survive and lead diplomacy after wartime losses.
- Stewart's friendship with Atakulakula saved him after Fort Loudoun's fall and helped organize the Augusta Congress.
Red Ink As Imperial Vision
- The Board of Trade drew a red line on maps to imagine an ordered empire that restrained western settlement.
- That line aimed to prevent colonial land grabs and to rebuild relations with indigenous peoples after costly wars.
The Proclamation Line Was Mostly Imaginary
- The famous 'proclamation line' was more an abstract cartographic idea than a physical barrier on the ground.
- Textbook depictions mislead because no clear, self-evident line existed across complex Appalachian terrain.
