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History of the United States I / Unit 3   USH1 0337 short lesson, about 20 seconds

Two Views of Property

Captions available

The idea

Native peoples did not believe in private ownership of land, viewing it as a resource held in common for the benefit of the group.

In practice

Usufruct, the right to common land use and enjoyment, coming close to that understanding.

Where people slip

Colonists did not practise usufruct widely. They established fields, fences and other means of demarcating private property, restricting seasonal movement.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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