As promised, here is part two of my earlier post on the “Deerskin Trade,” one of the most fascinating aspects of the European impact on Native Americans in the southeast. Often referred to as the “Indian Trade,” the “deerskin trade” required transatlantic finance, business organization and warehousing, as well as trade expeditions into the heart of Creek Country. The profits from this trade was often the only source of money with which to capitalize profitable farming and the establishment of African slavery in Britain’s southern colonies.
November is Native American Month: The Deerskin Trade, Part 2
2 Replies to “November is Native American Month: The Deerskin Trade, Part 2”
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Excellent discussion of the Atlantic trade economy and the Muscogee Creek Joe. I read part 1 also. In all the study and documentary film work I’ve done over the past 7 years especially on the Creek War 1813-14 and the factors that led up to that cataclysmic event in American history, I’ve wondered the whole time what the white tailed deer population was by 1800 in North America. 2 weeks ago I finally did a search and came up with one article that stated an estimation that by 1900, the population was somewhere around 500,000 but today that figure is about 15,000,000 individuals!
Mark,
It is interesting that the large-scale deerskin trade is ending by the Revolution, but partly to blame is the lack of regulation and licensing. The old trading houses and agents had been largely honest and very stable. After the French and Indian War, the British stopped licensing and subsidizing the trade because there was no longer a french threat on the frontier and no competing french traders.. And, British imports from its colonies, especially India, was more profitable for trading companies. Mercantilism as a political/economic guide was also challenged and discredited within the British parliamentary system.
Joe