I learned quite a bit in reading this huge book, which probably was meant for college classes. Indeed, the author of “Continental Reckoning”, Elliot West, is a Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Arkansas.
This book should be in an Economic or Law history class, and probably is.
Author Elliot West clearly outlines how greed and development drove American expansion. It appeared unstoppable, and while it led to development, great wealth and power, such was at the very expense of native peoples and the environment. Both and more were radically altered.
West does a good job describing this.
West’s description varies from:
“Gold is made from dying stars. It is born in a supernova, the explosion of an especially massive star, or the collision of two unimaginably dense neutron stars. It is flung into the void as space dust, some of which coalesces with other elements to become planets and other celestial objects.”
..varies to dryer descriptions that convince us about what he describes as “The Great Coincidence”, that is, the discovery of Gold and Silver combined with vast technological advances.
Mix in the need to unite the Nation after the Civil War, and the “shrinking” of the wide country through the invention of the Telegraph and the Transcontinental Railroad. The Telegraph allowed for instant communication, while obviously the railroads were able to move goods and people.
Nothing would stop this momentum.
Author Elliot West outlines, probably better than I have previously read, the bits and pieces that go together to re-design the West. This included replacing Buffalo with cattle, including the natural grass they fed on. Also, using huge water-driven blast hoses to remove earth, smelters, removing any trees from certain areas to be used for fuel, and much more.
Finally, in the last two chapters, Author West explores many of the nasty disservices against the land and native population. Here, as in much of the book, West deviates from “The Turner Thesis”, which I had to read in school. That thesis basis much on the use of guns, which overlooks the vast economic system that was emerging.
To balance out the driving force that was economic expansion, I added this to my long list of Indigenous People’s books:
All-in-all, I learned quite a bit in this huge book (Continental Reckoning), for me it was not such an easy read. Lots of numbers, concepts, and statistics to note. Full of information.
Related:
Two Reviews: The World’s Greatest Horse Warriors
https://covertbookreport.com/two-reviews-the-worlds-greatest-horse-warriors/
Review: The Indigenous Paleolithic Of The Western Hemisphere
https://covertbookreport.com/review-the-indigenous-paleolithic-of-the-western-hemisphere/
Review: “Comanches” By T.R. Fehrenbach
https://covertbookreport.com/review-comanches-by-t-r-fehrenbach/
-John Titus
