Mitchell card
Mitchell Map is the common name for a map made by John Mitchell (1711–1768) and used for various reprints in the late 18th century .
The Mitchell Map was used as the primary map source in the negotiations for the Treaty of Paris (1783) to determine the border of the newly independent United States . The map is essential to this day in resolving disputes over the border between the United States and Canada . It is the most comprehensive map of Eastern North America that was made during the colonial era . The width of the card is about 2 meters, the height is about 1.40 meters.
Origin of the card
John Mitchell was not a professional cartographer . Born in 1711 to a well-to-do family in Virginia, he studied medicine in Scotland . Like other doctors trained in Scotland at the time, he began to be interested in science and botany. His curiosity about cartography began during a trip to England in 1746. At that time the conflict between British and French colonial politics grew, which soon afterwards turned into a violent conflict during the French and Indian Wars. After his trip to England, Mitchell began to publicize the French threat to the British colonies in America. He decided to make a map showing the danger, specifically the way in which the French "surrounded" the British colonies. In addition, he wanted to represent the French advance on British territory, as it had been determined in the Peace of Utrecht in 1713, in the form of a map.
A first draft of the map was made in 1750. It was only a rough draft, but it made the Board of Trade and Plantations committee aware of Mitchell and then asked him to make a new map. With that in mind, Mitchell had access to the private collection of maps and reports held by the committee. The committee also instructed the governors in the colonies to provide Mitchell with detailed maps and information about the borders.
Mitchell's new map was published in 1755 by the London publisher Andrew Millar (1705–1768). A year later, the Seven Years' War broke out between the British and the French , known in the colonies as the French and Indian War.
The first edition of the Mitchell map, protected by copyright on February 13, 1755, was entitled A Map of the British and French Dominions in North America ... (German: A map of the British and French property rights in North America ... ). A second edition was quickly reprinted, probably in 1757. This also included two larger blocks of text describing the sources for the data and how they were prepared for the map.
The map
Although the Mitchell map went through several revisions during the second half of the 18th century, the edits and changes were mostly minor changes or added information boxes. The majority of the map remained unchanged through the various reprints, although the various prints were hand-colored in different ways. In all these editions and reprints, however, "the Mitchell Map" is always assumed.
Many other map makers who made maps of North America in the late 18th century used the Mitchell map as a source, and some of them copied it extensively. Because of this, some of Mitchell's mistakes were repeated on most maps of the time.
The map is generously provided with text descriptions that explain various objects on the map, especially in regions that were lesser known at the time or politically controversial areas. Many of the annotations also describe the natural resource and the opportunities for settlers to settle . Others describe the Indians of North America . Many Indian settlements are shown, including the most important trails.
Because Mitchell's main goal was to highlight the threat posed by the French to the British colonies, the map is strongly pro-British, especially with regard to the Iroquois . The map shows that the Iroquois were not only allies of the British, but also British subjects and therefore the entire tribal area of the Iroquois was British territory. Large parts of the continent are called British because the Iroquois had conquered settlement areas of various other tribes. French activities in the land claimed by the Iroquois are shown as illegal on the map.
In cases in which the sovereign claims of the British and French were disputed, Mitchell always accepted the British position. From today's perspective, many of his comments and the drawn-out borders look like political propaganda. Some of the claims seem downright flawed.
The map is very large and some of the notes are quite small, making it difficult to view it online. Reduced versions make the annotations illegible. The following list gives a few examples of the notes on the card, keeping Mitchell's spelling unchanged:
- Region between the middle of today's Tennessee and Kentucky (between Tennessee River and Cumberland River ): "A Fine Level Fertile Country of great Extent, by Accounts of the Indians and our People"
- In the area between the Mississippi River and the Tennessee River: "This Country of the Cherokees which extends Westward to the Mississippi and Northward to the Confines of the Six Nations was formally surrendered to the Crown of Britain at Westminster 1729"
- Great Plains : "The Nadouessoians are reckoned one of the most Populous Nations of Indians in North America, altho 'the number and situation of their Villages are not known nor laid down."
- Along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico , today's Texas : "Wandering Savage Indians"
- southwest of Hudson Bay : "The long and Barbarous Names lately given to some of these Northern Parts of Canada and the Lakes we have not inserted, as they are of no use, and uncertain Authority."
- north of Lake Huron : "MESSESAGUES - Subdued by the Iroquois and now united with them making the 8th Nation in that League." (refers to the people of the Mississaugas )
- Missouri River : "Missouri River is reckoned to run Westward to the Mountains of New Mexico, as far as the Ohio does Eastward"
- Today's Iowa: "Extensive Meadows full of Buffaloes"
- Sandusky , Ohio : "Sandoski - Canahogue - The seat of War, the Mart of Trade, & chief Hunting Grounds of the Six Nations, on the Lakes & the Ohio."
- Pennsylvania , north of present-day Harrisburg , Pennsylvania: “St. Anthony's Wilderness "
- Illinois area: "The Antient Eriez were extirpated by the Iroquois upwards of 100 years ago, ever since which time they have been in Possession of L. Erie" (refers to the Erie people )
- along the Illinois River and towards the south end of Lake Michigan : "Western Bounds of the Six Nations sold and Surrendered to Great Britain"
- Illinois Territory: "The Six Nations have extended their territories to the River Illinois, ever since the Year 1672, when they subdued, and were incorporated with, the Antient Chaouanons, the Native Proprietors of these Countries, and the River Ohio. Besides which they likewise claim a Right of Conquest over the Illinois, and all the Mississippi as far as they extend. This is confirmed by their own Claims and Possessions in 1742, which include all the Bounds here laid down, and none have ever thought fit to dispute them. "(Refers to the Illinois people )
- just below the previous note: "The Ohio Indians are a mixt Tribe of the Several Indians of our Colonies, settled here under the Six Nations, who have always been in Alliance and Subjection to the English. The most numerous of them are the Delaware and Shawnoes, who are Natives of the Delaware River. Those about Philadelphia were called Sauwanoos whom we now call Shawanoes, or Shawnoes. The Mohickans and Minquaas were the Antient Inhabitants of Susquehanna R. "(refers to the peoples of Lenni Lenape , Shawnee and Susquehannock )
- in the southeast of the Missouri area: "Mines of Marameg, which gave rise to the famous Mississippi Scheme 1719."
- North Florida: "TIMOOQUA - Destroy'd by the Carolinians in 1706" (refers to the Timucua people )
- South Georgia: "COUNTRY OF THE APALACHEES - Conquered & surrendered to the Carolinians, after two memorable Victories obtain'd over them & the Spaniards in 1702 & 1703 at the Places marked thus [crossed-swords]" (refers to the people the Apalachee )
- Alabama Area: “The English have Factories & Settlements in all the Towns of the Creek Indians of any note, except Alabamas; which was usurped by the French in 1715 but established by the English 28 years before. "(refers to the Muskogee people )
- Yazoo River: "River of the Yasous - The Indians on this River were in Alliance with the English, for which they have been destroyed by the French" (refers to the Yazoo people)
Many geographic objects had names that were no longer used or misspelled, for example:
- New River: “Gr. Conhaway called Wood R. or New R. "
- Kentucky River: "Cuttawa or Catawba R."
- Clinch River: "Pelisipi River" (a tributary is named "Clinch's R.")
- Tennessee River: "River of the Cherokees or Hogohegee R." and further upstream "River Hogohegee or Callamaco"
- French Broad River: "Agiqua R."
- Little Tennessee River: "Tannassee or Satico R."
- Hiwassee River: "Euphasee"
- Ohio River: "Ohio or Splawacipiki R."
- Altamaha River: "Alatamaha or George R."
The map also showed non-existent objects, such as the islands of Phelipeaux and Pontchartrain in Lake Superior.
Use for the Treaty of Paris
A few copies of the Mitchell map were used during the negotiations for the Treaty of Paris (1783) . The most valuable copies of the map are those on which the boundaries defined by the contract are marked with red lines. Only three examples are known.
expenditure
The map was published in a total of four issues, some with multiple editions:
- 1st edition, 1st edition: 1755
- 1st edition, 2nd edition: 1755
- 1st edition, 3rd edition: 1755
- 2nd edition: 1755–1757
- 3rd edition, 1st edition: 1773–1775
- 3rd edition, 2nd edition: 1773–1775
- 3rd edition, 3rd edition: 1773–1775
- 4th edition: 1775
