Henry David Thoreau
The very first name mentioned in the book (following the Preface) is Henry David Thoreau. In fact, Thoreau is mentioned by his full name in the very first line of the first chapter. Considering that the subtitle of the text is “Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England” this should be anything but surprising. After all, there is arguably no other single individual associated with New England’s past and ecology than the writer of famous writer of Walden. Thoreau’s account has become synonymous with the great American dream of enjoy a little isolation and alone time with nature and he ranks the most famous if not necessarily the very first environmental philosopher to spring from New England.
John Winthrop
Winthrop was one of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and thus one of the true founders of America. His significance in the book is in his role as what the author describes as a “colonial theorizer” and the specific theories in question are Winthrop’s views toward land ownership which he divided into two approaches. Natural rights to property are acquired through habitation and cultivation of land whereas civil rights to property are conferred through legal processes. From this theory of ownership came Winthrop’s key influence on the issue: native tribes could make a claim of natural rights only to fields of corn they cultivated, thus leaving literally every other square inch of land in the New World subject to legal acquisition. Pretty sweet deal if you have to be the one making the laws.
Miantonomo
At the opposite end of the spectrum stands Miantonomo of the Narragansett tribe. He proves quite literate in expressing his opposition toe foundational theories of land ownership expressed and practiced by the settlers, but, as the author concludes, all his mastery of oration really comes down to one simple message he becomes intent on spreading far and wide among other tribes: the new guys are taking our land. Miantonomo’s specific arguments simply point to the basic underlying structure of Winthrop’s theoretical construct: if legal trickery doesn’t work first, use force and if force doesn’t work first, use legal trickery.
Timothy Dwight
More so than just about any other reference, the author looks to the writings of academic-educator-minister and President of Yale, Timothy Dwight, for insight into the ecological nature of New England’s past. He credits with Dwight with being the only person to recognize the value of native tribes purposely setting forest fires in order to create more fertile feeing grounds for deer. At the same time, however, Dwight is also singled out for his observation that only Indians who had recognized the European concept of the value of property could be considered civilized whereas those who had failed to learn this lesson were destined to remain always just Indians.
