Long Hunters Case Study

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Section 1: Long Hunters: Long hunters were men who crossed into Native American hunting grounds in Tennessee to hunt. The expeditions would take the men away from their homes and families for months at a time, hence the term “long hunters.” They were very crafty and skilled, poaching game from the Native Americans, diminishing their herds. Besides hunting on sacred grounds in order to provide settlers with illegally attained pelts and fur, long hunters brought back stories of the lands and Native Americans to the West. The most identifiable long hunter was Daniel Boone. Royal Proclamation of 1763: After the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763, England held the lion’s share of land on the eastern side of America. Unfortunately, English authorities were struggling to control the settlers, as they continued to press westward. In an effort to not only better-manage the colonies, but also pacify the grumblings of the Native Americans, King George III announced the Proclamation of 1763. This decree was intended to restrict white settlers from venturing beyond the peak of the Appalachian Mountains; but the frontier spirit of the settlers was strong and they continued to press on, the long hunters paving the way. Watauga Settlement: The genesis of Tennessee can be traced back to 1760 and the Watauga District. In 1770 Cherokee and British officials drafted the Lochaber Treaty prohibiting settlers from venturing further south and west onto Native American lands. But the following year, when British officials decided to survey the boundary lines, they discovered three of the four districts were outside the agreed upon boundaries and therefore were on Native American lands. British officials ordered settlers in the three districts to v... ... middle of paper ... ...law enforcement agencies had a difficult time controlling the problem. Moonshine, crime, and violence abounded in the state, and residents began to see the downside of prohibition. It took many years of organized crime taking over cities and towns for Tennesseans to vote to repeal prohibition in 1933 with the passing and ratification of the 21st Amendment. Tennessee’s relationship with alcohol has a long and interesting history. From bargaining chip, to bribe, to the “root of all evil,” this fiery substance has been an ongoing issue for Tennessee voters and residents. Even today, 91 of Tennessee’s 95 counties still have some kind of liquor laws in place. The state is considering changing some of its restrictive laws, but it remains to be seen if the changes will pass with voters. For as long as the Bible Belt cinches the state, liquor laws will remain in place.

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