[8] Just how much the racial characteristics had to do with making this
     wilderness a center of democracy, it is difficult to estimate.  Some
     would contend that although the Western people were of races different
     from this aristocratic element of the East, their own history shows
     that this had little to do with the estrangement of the West from the
     East, and that the fact that many persons of these same stocks who
     settled in the East became identified with the interests of that
     section is sufficient evidence to prove what an insignificant factor
     racial characteristics are.  But although environment proves itself
     here to be the important factor in the development of these people
     and we are compelled to concede that the frontier made the Western
     man an advocate of republican principles, heredity must not be
     ignored altogether.

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.