The First American West: The Ohio River Valley, 1750-1820
In a hurry? Save or print these Collection Connections as a single file.
Go directly to the collection, The First American West: The Ohio River Valley, 1750-1820, in American Memory, or view a Summary of Resources related to the collection.
Historical Comprehension: Constructing the Meaning of a Historic Poem
Read the stanzas of an 1807 poem “Gen. Washington With Some Remarks on Jeffersonian Policy” and the poem printed on the reverse, “A Poem on Profane Cursing and Swearing.”
…Great Washington, our friend, is dead,
And Jefferson reigns in his stead,
Much reason then to mourn and sigh,
But Jefferson must also die,
A man he is, a frail one too.
As sad experience now doth shew,
Then will forsake our present head,
And chose a better in his stead.
Chorus:
Behold the dismal change of late,
See Jefferson in the chair of state.From “Gen. Washington With Some Remarks on Jeffersonian Policy”
- What references does the poem “Gen. Washington With Some Remarks on Jeffersonian Policy” make to political decisions during the Jefferson administration?
- How does the poem ridicule Jefferson?
- How did opponents regard Jefferson’s moral character?
- What inferences can be drawn from the publication of the second poem on the reverse side of the poem criticizing Jefferson’s policies?
Historical Comprehension: Drawing Upon Data in Historical Maps
Examine the 1794 “Map of the State of Kentucky: with the Adjoining Territories” showing the physical features of the land and a large tract of land in Southwestern territory (currently northwestern Tennessee) that was reserved for North Carolina Revolutionary War veterans.
- What can you discern from the map about the grant of western lands to Revolutionary War veterans?
- Why do you think North Carolina set aside these lands for veterans? What would the state have to gain from the opening of the western frontier?