The Middle Ground: Indians, Empires, and Republics in the Great Lakes Region, 1650 - 1815

What was the significance of Algonquian kinship networks in shaping social structures in the pays d’en haut, and how did it influence conflicts and alliances?

How did environmental challenges faced by pays d’en haut societies contribute to societal shifts? Consider how these causes and effects altered through time.

How did the new political landscape caused by the American Revolution influence the relationships between Indigenous American groups and the Europeans and the middle ground between them?

Consider the roles that women played in the Algonquian and European societies of the pays d’en haut. How does White present instances of gender-based cooperation or conflict?

Analyze White’s presentation of how shifting beliefs and practices played a role in diplomatic negotiations and everyday life for the Algonquians.

How did conflicting views of land ownership between the Europeans, Algonquians, and Iroquois impact the middle ground, and how did these contribute to larger disputes?

How did the French, British, and Americans variously perceive the Algonquians? How did their understandings or misunderstandings shape the nature of interactions?

Analyze the book’s language, tone, and perspective, and consider the extent to which this is balanced in its treatment of the various cultural groups it discusses.