About the book
Examining interactions between native Americans and whites in eighteenth-century Pennsylvania, Jane Merritt traces the emergence of race as the defining difference between these neighbors on the frontier.
Before 1755, Indian and white communities in Pennsylvania shared a certain amount of interdependence. They traded skills and resources and found a common enemy in the colonial authorities, including the powerful Six Nations, who attempted to control them and the land they inhabited. Using innovative research in German Moravian records, among other sources, Merritt explores the cultural practices, social needs, gender dynamics, economic exigencies, and political forces that brought native Americans and Euramericans together in the first half of the eighteenth century.
But as Merritt demonstrates, the tolerance and even cooperation that once marked relations between Indians and whites collapsed during the Seven Years' War. By the 1760s, as the white population increased, a stronger, nationalist identity emerged among both white and Indian populations, each calling for new territorial and political boundaries to separate their communities. Differences between Indians and whites — whether political, economic, social, religious, or ethnic — became increasingly characterized in racial terms, and the resulting animosity left an enduring legacy in Pennsylvania’s colonial history.
Editions of At the Crossroads
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807827895
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807854624
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469603735
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890876515
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807899892
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890876508
Read an Excerpt
Examining interactions between native Americans and whites in eighteenth-century Pennsylvania, Jane Merritt traces the emergence of race as the defining difference between these neighbors on the frontier.
Before 1755, Indian and white communities in Pennsylvania shared a certain amount of interdependence. They traded skills and resources and found a common enemy in the colonial authorities, including the powerful Six Nations, who attempted to control them and the land they inhabited. Using innovative research in German Moravian records, among other sources, Merritt explores the cultural practices, social needs, gender dynamics, economic exigencies, and political forces that brought native Americans and Euramericans together in the first half of the eighteenth century.
But as Merritt demonstrates, the tolerance and even cooperation that once marked relations between Indians and whites collapsed during the Seven Years' War. By the 1760s, as the white population increased, a stronger, nationalist identity emerged among both white and Indian populations, each calling for new territorial and political boundaries to separate their communities. Differences between Indians and whites — whether political, economic, social, religious, or ethnic — became increasingly characterized in racial terms, and the resulting animosity left an enduring legacy in Pennsylvania’s colonial history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is At the Crossroads about?
Examining interactions between native Americans and whites in eighteenth-century Pennsylvania, Jane Merritt traces the emergence of race as the defining difference between these neighbors on the frontier.
Before 1755, Indian and white communities in Pennsylvania shared a certain amount of interdependence. They traded skills and resources and found a common enemy in the colonial authorities, including the powerful Six Nations, who attempted to control them and the land they inhabited. Using innovative research in German Moravian records, among other sources, Merritt explores the cultural practices, social needs, gender dynamics, economic exigencies, and political forces that brought native Americans and Euramericans together in the first half of the eighteenth century.
But as Merritt demonstrates, the tolerance and even cooperation that once marked relations between Indians and whites collapsed during the Seven Years' War. By the 1760s, as the white population increased, a stronger, nationalist identity emerged among both white and Indian populations, each calling for new territorial and political boundaries to separate their communities. Differences between Indians and whites — whether political, economic, social, religious, or ethnic — became increasingly characterized in racial terms, and the resulting animosity left an enduring legacy in Pennsylvania’s colonial history.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in At the Crossroads?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > Ethnic studies / Ethnicity > Ethnic groups and multicultural studies > Indigenous peoples / Indigeneity
Where can I read a sample of At the Crossroads?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807827895
How long is At the Crossroads and how many pages does it have?
At the Crossroads has 352 page(s)
Is At the Crossroads part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Published by the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture and the University of North Carolina Press
Who is/are the Author/s of the book At the Crossroads?
Jane T. Merritt
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
At the Crossroads is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807827895) and paperback(ISBN 9780807854624) and ebook(ISBN 9781469603735) and ebook(ISBN 9798890876515) and ebook(ISBN 9780807899892) and pdf(ISBN 9798890876508)
Where can I buy At the Crossroads online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy At the Crossroads from below
Where can I buy At the Crossroads?