ltogether.

Exactly how much influence the Scotch-Irish had in shaping the destiny
of Appalachian America is another much mooted question with which we
are concerned here because historians give almost all the credit to
this race. Even an authority like Justin Winsor leaves the impression
that Virginia cared little for the frontier, and that all honor is due
to the Scotch-Irish. Their influence in shaping the destiny of other
States has been equally emphasized. The facts collected by Hanna
doubtless give much support to the claims of that people to the honor
for the development of Appalachian America. His conclusions, however,
are rather far-sweeping and often shade into imagination. On the other
hand, a good argument may be made to prove that other people, such as
the Germans and Dutch, deserve equal honor. Furthermore, few of the
eulogists of the Scotch-Irish take into account the number of
indentured servants and poor whites who moved westward with the
frontier. Besides, it must not be thought that the East neglected the
frontier intentionally simply because the Tidewater people could not
early subdue the wilderness. They did much to develop it. The records
of the time of the Indian troubles beginning in 1793 show that the
State governments answered the call for troops and ammunition as
promptly as they could, and their statute books show numerous laws
which were enacted in the interest of the West during these troubles.
The truth of the matter is that, whatever might have been the desire
of the East to conquer the wilderness, the sectionalizing institution
of slavery which the colony had accepted as the basis of its society
rendered the accomplishment of such an object impossible. There was
too great diversity of interest in that region.

[9] Jefferson's Works, VI, 484.

[10] Kercheval, "History of the Valley," 47 and 48.

[11] It soon became evident that it was better to invest in slaves who had
much more difficulty than the indentured servants in escaping and passing
as freemen.

[12] Jefferson's Works, VI, 484.

[13] This statement is based on the provisions of the first State
constitutions. See Thorpe's "Charters and Constitutions."

[14] Grigsby, "Convention of 1788," 15, 49.

[15] The people living near the coast desired reform under British rule.
The frontiersmen had to win