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Indigenous Nations and the Development of the U.S. Economy: Land, Resources, and Dispossession

Author

Listed:
  • Carlos, Ann M.
  • Feir, Donna L.
  • Redish, Angela

Abstract

Abundant land and strong property rights are conventionally viewed as key factors underpinning U.S. economic development success. This view relies on the “Pristine Myth” of an empty undeveloped land, but the abundant land of North America was already made productive and was the recognized territory of sovereign Indigenous Nations. We demonstrate that the development of strong property rights for European/American settlers was mirrored by the attenuation and increasing disregard of Indigenous property rights. We argue that the dearth of discussion of the dispossession of Indigenous nations results in a misunderstanding of some of the core themes of U.S. economic history.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlos, Ann M. & Feir, Donna L. & Redish, Angela, 2022. "Indigenous Nations and the Development of the U.S. Economy: Land, Resources, and Dispossession," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 82(2), pages 516-555, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jechis:v:82:y:2022:i:2:p:516-555_6
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    Cited by:

    1. Christian Dippel & Dustin Frye & Bryan Leonard, 2024. "Bureaucratic discretion in policy implementation: evidence from the Allotment Era," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 199(3), pages 193-211, June.
    2. Sascha O. Becker, 2022. "Forced displacement in history: Some recent research," Australian Economic History Review, Economic History Society of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(1), pages 2-25, March.
    3. Ennio E. Piano & Louis Rouanet, 2024. "The calculus of american indian consent: the law and economics of tribal constitutions," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 199(3), pages 341-366, June.
    4. Julie Snorek & Susanne Freidberg & Geneva Smith, 2024. "Relationships of regeneration in Great Plains commodity agriculture," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 41(4), pages 1449-1464, December.
    5. Inwood, Kris & Keay, Ian, 2024. "The physical well-being of Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest: Anthropometric evidence from British Columbia’s jails, 1864–1913," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    6. Jesse McDevitt-Irwin & James R. Irwin, 2025. "Infant mortality among US whites in the 19th century: New evidence from childhood sex ratios," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 52(10), pages 303-350.
    7. Angel, Marco Del & Hess, Gregory D. & Weidenmier, Marc D., 2024. "Mineral price shocks and Native American conflict," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    8. Ayesh, Abubakr & Hisam, Kulsoom & Lorenz, Aaron, 2025. "How Institutions and Bargaining Power shaped Indigenous Economies and Agriculture," 2025 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2025, Denver, CO 360987, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    9. Guinnane, Timothy W., 2023. "We Do Not Know the Population of Every Country in the World for the Past Two Thousand Years," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 83(3), pages 912-938, September.
    10. Marina Mileo Gorzig & D. L. Feir & Randall Akee & Samuel Myers & Marium Navid & Kai Tiede & Olivia Matzke, 2022. "Native American Age at Death in the USA," Journal of Economics, Race, and Policy, Springer, vol. 5(3), pages 194-209, September.
    11. Ellie Norris & Shawgat Kutubi & Steven Greenland, 2022. "Accounting and First Nations: A Systematic Literature Review and Directions for Future Research," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 32(2), pages 156-180, June.
    12. Donn L Feir & Rob Gillezeau & Maggie E C Jones, 2024. "The Slaughter of the Bison and Reversal of Fortunes on the Great Plains," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 91(3), pages 1634-1670.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • N40 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • N41 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • N50 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • N51 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913

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