What was the nature of America's landscape in the early 1800s?

Answer 1

In the early 1800s, the young nation of the United States of America was still largely pristine.

Geography - From New England States, across New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, down through Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky, these states were still largely thick forests and natural springs and waterways.

The Ohio Territory had opened for settlement by 1800, but many countries and Land Companies squabbled over land ownership. So settlers were afraid to buy land in case one entity might win "ownership". But between 1800 and 1830, Manifest Destiny was the driving force; settlers began moving East to West, to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and west and southwest through Kansas, Oklahoma, etc. all the way to California.

Most travel was still, in 1800, via horse, oxen or horses pulling wagons, or by rope ferries to cross rivers, or on flat boats to go down rivers. The Ohio River was a main route to move southwest from Maryland and other eastern States, going along the bottom of now-State of Ohio, over to The Mississippi if the settlers could get that far.

Migration often split up extended families, especially adult children with their young children, from the adult child's parents, aunts, and uncles. In other families, all generations moved together as one unit, especially if the female parent lost her husband. At the new location, they often set up different households on the same or adjoining lands.

There was continued change in society. But hardships were the norm.

Up through the late 1800s, many communities had "Poor Farms". Kids of poor families often worked by age 8.

Though there were no active volcanoes in the US to impede settlement, in 1815 Mount Tambora, located a half a world away, exploded after nearly 5 years of smaller eruptions. Dust in the atmosphere circled the globe. This caused "The Summer that Never Was" in Europe and The US. Snow and winter-like temps hit in the summer. Farmers could not grow crops. Livestock died from lack of food and warmth. Adult animals could not feed their newborns. Humans caught colds and flu, and never recovered, many weakened by the cold and lack of food. People from newborn babies to elderly died. The bad conditions continued from 1816 through 1822.

The US often followed English traditions as they had known overseas. So for example, Court Houses and the need for Record Keeping continued in the US. Otherwise, the US was a toddler learning to take its own steps, and a teenager learning to make its own way.

Answer 2

In the early 1800s, the young nation of the United States of America was still largely pristine.

Geography - From New England States, across New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, down through Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky, these states were still largely thick forests and natural springs and waterways.

The Ohio Territory had opened for settlement by 1800, but many countries and Land Companies squabbled over land ownership. So settlers were afraid to buy land in case one entity might win "ownership". But between 1800 and 1830, Manifest Destiny was the driving force; settlers began moving East to West, to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and west and southwest through Kansas, Oklahoma, etc. all the way to California.

Most travel was still, in 1800, via horse, oxen or horses pulling wagons, or by rope ferries to cross rivers, or on flat boats to go down rivers. The Ohio River was a main route to move southwest from Maryland and other eastern States, going along the bottom of now-State of Ohio, over to The Mississippi if the settlers could get that far.

Migration often split up extended families, especially adult children with their young children, from the adult child's parents, aunts, and uncles. In other families, all generations moved together as one unit, especially if the female parent lost her husband. At the new location, they often set up different households on the same or adjoining lands.

There was continued change in society. But hardships were the norm.

Up through the late 1800s, many communities had "Poor Farms". Kids of poor families often worked by age 8.

Though there were no active volcanoes in the US to impede settlement, in 1815 Mount Tambora, located a half a world away, exploded after nearly 5 years of smaller eruptions. Dust in the atmosphere circled the globe. This caused "The Summer that Never Was" in Europe and The US. Snow and winter-like temps hit in the summer. Farmers could not grow crops. Livestock died from lack of food and warmth. Adult animals could not feed their newborns. Humans caught colds and flu, and never recovered, many weakened by the cold and lack of food. People from newborn babies to elderly died. The bad conditions continued from 1816 through 1822.

The US often followed English traditions as they had known overseas. So for example, Court Houses and the need for Record Keeping continued in the US. Otherwise, the US was a toddler learning to take its own steps, and a teenager learning to make its own way.