McGaw did a great job defining her ideas of technology. On page 22, she states “ we have given little thought to early modern technology or to farm technology in general. It suffices to say here that agricultural technology includes far more than machines, implements, and the knowledge of how to use them.” There is more to technology than what we think of. She also says how “it must include the plants and animal behavior.” She gave lots of examples of the types of technology in agriculture. –Erika M.

Pursell made her point clear throughout the reading that understanding farming technology of early American settlements is more in-depth than just knowing what “the machine on the drawing board” looked like. Pursell stated on page 11 that “a careful and respectful observance of the particulars of time and space tends to dissolve the easy comfortable generalizations which can easily become conventional wisdom on any subject”. When looking at technology of the time, it is not only important to look at the tools and how each one was used, but also what in early framer’s environments caused them to use their tools in the ways they did. – Jack Sweetak

In the book, it is mentioned that the influence between the Frontier and Germany based on the food-processing technology that was somewhat different from one another. Germans cook and heat with stoves, while the British mainly used open-hearth cookery and heating. Like other German technologies however, the stove started to become part of British America’s modern technology. This makes things interesting for the counties in the area because of the fact that a stove was going to help them cook food and be able to process the food as well. The Craftswomen that prepared the meals resisted having new tools that would cause them their hard-won proficiencies that they loved to use. With the quality of the work experience in the food “industry” at the time, this just about required new repertoire of skills to have to be able to make meals (p. 28). - Hunter Dykhuis

In this section of the book, McCaw writes how farmers not only needed to produce their own products, for example flax, but they also needed specialists to work on these materials. This is so because farmers did not have the machinery to work the grains, they could only grow it. This concept is interesting because one farmer could not do everything on his own, he would need help from surrounding people to create his final product. McCaw describes this by saying, “There is, for example, no evidence that any farmer owned tools to grind his own grain; and, except in frontier York with its exceptionally poor transportation facilities, and many lacked hackles to comb it” (23). This shows that many people had to be involved in the process to create one goal. Not one farmer or person could do something on their own. McCaw emphasizes that farmers had to purchase everyday goods, but also had to put their products through mills and carpenters to help shape and finalize their goods they produced. -Reilly Miller

In this chapter of the book, McGaw compares different counties in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. McGaw states “ Thus, comparing data from the various counties should indicate which of several relevant factors - Length of settlement, Ethnic composition, access to markets, relative affluence, and natural endowment” (p. 17). The first county, Burlington County, New Jersey settled early compare to other counties. the county is located close to the water thus making it good for water transportation. The population in the county in Brittish with Quaker influence. Another county being examined is Hunterdon, New Jersey, found north of Burlington. It was seen that settlement was not as fast as Burlington being 2 generations behind. Although, during the 18th-century Hunterdons population surpassed its neighbor. Unlike Burlington, most of Hunterdon's population was predominantly Dutch and German. Like their neighbor, Hunterdon also sent crops by water to Philidelphia. I think it is interesting that two counties very close to one another can be so very different. - Erin Madden

An impactful contribution that McGaw makes is pointing out the fact that there is no concrete standard for tools owned by colonial early farming families. McGaw argues that the American view of having a “one best way” comes from the use of modern technology because of the heavy focus on industrial history as well as the copious records of recent technological advancement. When most people think of technology, they quickly think of industrial machines or digital inventions while agricultural innovations and technology had a lot more to them. All products involving nature like livestock and food processes, fiber and wool, as well as other farm products are all interconnected by different aspects of labor and knowledge distribution that all qualify as technology. (pg 22 and 23) -Meghan McDonagh

In this reading the first point made discusses that in history we have a tendency to study the new inventions as opposed to looking at the technology that was actually common throughout society. The writing gives the example of the plow and how when you think of early farmers you often picture them with a plow but in reality most of them did not have or use this tool. I began to think about technology today and what could be seen as “the big thing” in the future when we will be studied and electric cars came to mind. There is a very good chance that in the future it will be portrayed as though everyone has electric cars at this point in time but that is far from the truth. -Emma Monaghan

Hamilton and Coxe bring up interesting arguments in defense of building American industry. Jefferson's concerns about Americans choosing the better quality of more experienced industries, like England's, over their own less refined product is counter-argued by Coxe. He says that Americans would choose American products because it is American: fads, styles, and formats will be adopted and picked up by American culture because it is made in America as oppose to Americans wearing English or French fashion because that is what is popular in Europe. It makes me wonder how true that statement is and its effects on commercializing American products. Hamilton addresses Jefferson's concerns about labor by simply stating the usefulness of children and women. As we know, women and children were a large part of the workforce when industrialization and mechanization reached its peak in America in the late 19th and early-mid 20th centuries. -K.Eastridge

During Washington's time in office I found it interesting that it was the most critical time for defining the new role that the federal government should play in fostering manufacturing. They were encouraging manufacturing of this technology but the issue kept reoccurring about foreign tariffs, especially with the Europeans. Much of Washington's cabinet was split on this issues with manufacturing and agricultural interest. Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton were key parts of this discussion. A lot more would continue to be done about foreign manufacturing and tariffs. -Haley Denehy

I’m perplexed as to how Jefferson truly conceived and believed in the notion that manufacturing operations could remain overseas, but the productions that occurred from them could be imported and then exist in the U.S. Maybe I initially misunderstood, but surely Jefferson didn’t believe that a nation at this time could rely on foreign labor for its leading technological advancements. As Nate mentioned in his comment, Jefferson also seems to struggle with an environmental decision between choosing whether or not to cultivate and develop American land. Although, Jefferson’s reasons seem to be aesthetically driven, not scientifically. He simply finds America too beautiful. - Dillyn Scott

In this work, Leo Marx writes regarding the issue of technology intruding on North America’s pastoral scenery.

Modern & advancing technology seems to support the integration of nature with technology - think of the Climate Change movements advocating for the implementation of Green Cities. Are these movements motivated solely out of concern that modern technology is harming the environment, or is there an unspoken concern (health hazards aside), that the aesthetics of natural landscapes being encroached upon is also unacceptable?–Nate Stringer

Leo Marx’s work placed an emphasis on the economic positives of manufacturing and capitalism. Jefferson acknowledges the importance of the steam mill and how it can have a major role in American Society. It is odd that Jefferson, who emphasized farming and agrarian societies does deem steam engines to hold an important role in the upcoming society. It is likely that Jefferson knew the significance these inventions would be able to contribute to America by increasing economic activities. To be able to stand independently in the world America had to become a producing and manufacturing country. It was necessary to begin manufacturing, despite the agrarian society, which would allow America to become a worldwide power. - John Liberty