Print.A brilliant new dataset produced by the European Commission JRC and CIESIN Columbia University was recently released- the Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL). Mapping the Nation: History and Cartography in Nineteenth-century America. Chapel Hill: Published for the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture by University of North Carolina, 2006. The Geographic Revolution in Early America: Maps, Literacy, and National Identity. Once America civilized the West, there was no limit as to how far it could stretch its reach across the globe.īrückner, Martin. And ultimately, it showed the potential power of America. Second, it created the voice of the country, but also silenced the voices of the Native Americans. First, it created a drive to discover and harness the West. This map of population density did not only show population. If America could conquer the great unknown of frontier, then it could conquer the rest of the world. The size of the country alone is intimidating and presents America with a challenge. The population density map does not show American power the way a British map does. Most early American maps were inexpensive and practical. American cartography was much less elaborate. The British Empire and much of Europe used maps to show superiority and more refined culture than their colonies and the rest of the word by distorting and “painted bombastic scenes of territorial conquest” (Schulten). Nations started using maps as tools of power since the age of exploration. This map created a sense of American pride among the inhabitants and it shows the potential power of America. Seeing oneself on this map made one feel like an important part of the nation which increased a sense of pride among Americans. Where someone lives is just as much a part of their identity as their name, especially in early America (Schulten). Women, children, and slaves were accounted for and have a place on this map. At a time when only white, adult males were able to vote, this map does not exclusively show them. The reader cannot differentiate the number of slaves in a particular area because of this particular choice. Notice, the map does not have a different color for a particular group of people it maps the total population.
Census counted white males over the age of 16, white males under the age of 16, white females, and slaves (“1790 Population Map”). This map created an American voice while silencing the voice of the Native Americans (Bruckner). The map blatantly states that it excludes non-taxed Indians. Harley, “maps-just as much as examples of literature or the spoken word- exert a social influence through their omissions as much as by their features they depict and emphasize”(Harley). What the author chooses to leave out is called a silence. This map motivated Americans to claim the West and spread their presence throughout the world.Ī map cannot possibly include everything one may want it to.
As the country began to grow accumulate more land and people, it established a uniquely American identity and drive that would later carry through the country’s international relations. In early American history, the continent was their identity (Schulten). A map such as this, created a desire to explore and tame the rugged land and to conquer every corner of the country. One of the main responsibilities of the Department of the Interior was the “exploration of western wilderness” (“History of the Interior”). All this territory belonged to the United States and an American citizen looking at this map could see the endless possibilities of the frontier. Not only does the map show densely populated areas, it unveils the never ending wilderness to the left. The densest areas (mostly coastal areas) are indicated by a dark shade of brown and the color lightens as it travels west and the population becomes less dense. The Department of the Interior put together maps that showed population density with this information.
The first census of the United States was collected in 1790. The Population of the United States map proves that a map of one nation can have an impact on the way America potentially behaves internationally. The map, along with its necessary silences, is an early example of the young nation showcasing its potential power. However, this map does exclude certain groups, such as the Native Americans. Maps like these provide a sense of identity as an American citizen. This was the first time Americans were able to pinpoint exactly where they were on the map while also showcasing the uncivilized western territory. How could a map exclusively of the United States shape national identity and American international relations? The Department of the Interior’s map of the population of the United States shows the population density of 1790.