The Response to "Natural" Disaster in Colonial America

FAIN: FR-10350-78

James P. Walsh
Connecticut State University System (New Britain, CT 06050-2439)

To study the communal response to "natural" disaster in colonial America. There is an interesting body of literature examining the reactions of modern communities to tornadoes, floods and other catastrophes. This project would be a study of the intellectual and psychological reactions to similar events in 17th and 18th century America. Study would attempt to discern differences in the definition of "nature' by Europeans, Africans and native Americans, differences in each group's awareness of, and attitude toward impending disaster, and differences in each group's reaction to disaster.