"Bethlehem, Pennsylvania"
This painting of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, executed in 1757, demonstrates the extent to which human habitation influenced the natural environment of North America. Toward the back of the painting, the artist has depicted a thick forest. The trees along the river have largely been cleared away, though, and replaced with farms, gardens, livestock pens, houses, and public buildings. The residents of Bethlehem did not remove all of the trees; instead, they've taken steps to control nature by marking human boundaries. For instance, trees line the road to the left and front the house in the foreground. The gardens in front of the public buildings in the center of the image reinforce the settlers' desire for controlled nature. They are neatly laid-out plots of grass divided by geometric walkways. Moreover, Bethlehem clearly is well linked to the outside world, with roads running into and out of town and a river in the foreground.

What does this painting indicate about settlers' priorities?