Expansion Books

This short work is packed with more good, succinct information than any book I have read. Well researched, well written, William Weeks makes you want more of him. This is a must read.

This volume represents a comprehensive and in-depth look at what is currently known about China's economic and political extensions into the Western Hemisphere. The authors address China's growing economic and political relationship with Latin America in a clear and concise manner. This relationship's relevance to the U.S.'s role in the region is also emphasized throughout.
This is the best book I've found on the complex series of relationships between China, Latin America and the U.S. An easily digestible and inspiring read.

I never considered that California had any connection with the Civil War. But after reading Mr. Bricken's book, I became aware of the tremendous impact Southern transplants had on Southern California, and particularly the Santa Ana-Orange County area during the late 1800s. The book offers a great overview of the those who went West seeking a better life for their families after the Northerners "took over" the war-ravaged South. Bravo to Mr. Bricken & thanks for researching your subject so thoroughly. And for making this subject a joy to read!

This book is the 2nd in a larger series called "The Frontier People of America". These people did the rough work of creating a civilization, and for their reward were cheated by eastern land companies and now renounced by the modern culture of our nation. It's the Indians who are now the "good guys" as if such an easy distinction could be made. Van Every is an excellent author and lays out the facts about atrocities and achievements of both sides of the frontier struggle. The hardships the pioneers face should give us pause when we complain about our alleged "problems".

Few people know the name of Madison Grant--yet he holds the distinction of being one of the first of what today we call environmentalists--struggling hard to preserve the rapidly-shrinking wild lands of the Far West.

His other interests--race--were much more predictible--being as he was a man of his times. Oddly enough the situation today is reversed--anyone worth his salt finds environmentalism a worthy cause--while racial issues are fraught with controversy.

To Grant, though, the two issues had a close relation--with only limited room for people if he wa to help preserve his beloved land the question of just who owuld occupy the land was of top importance.

Grant was not necessarily a "racist"--he had as little desire to see non-Anglo-Saxons like Italians etc. in the US despite the fact that they too are "white" and share certain values with the WASPs he endorses.

Needless to say the book is controversial, and his Malthusian presuppositions are typical of his era. Still as an historical piece The Conquest of a Continent is an interesting read, especially for environmentalists. For eg. few of them know that a lot of the "first" greens were none other than the Nazis!

Once again, these diaries and letters of the "Covered Wagon Women" series detail the extraordinary stamina of early day pioneers traveling the Oregon Trail.
The year 1852 not only had the heaviest trail traffic westward, but it was also rife with hundreds of human cholera deaths. As Parthenia Blank solemnly relates, "it makes it seem very gloomy to us to see so many of the emigrants buried on the plains". At the end of her journey, Martha Read had counted 750 graves, "but I suppose that a small part, for there were so many campt off from the road and buried their dead".
Life on the trail also took its toll on livestock. Martha Read further notes the tally of "600 dead cattle and 50 horses" from "hollow horn"(anthrax), alkali water, poisonous plants, "want of good care", little food, lack of foot care, etc.
Even in the early stages while crossing the Iowa River, Polly Coon is quoted as saying, "What a brittle thread has life and how uncertain that another moment is ours" after witnessing three men drowning during the river fording.
Seventeen year old Abigail Jane Scott's lengthy diary is complete not only of daily routines, observations of the countryside and the many hardships associated with trail life, but also the vivid and harrowing descriptions of the deaths of her mother and brother during the journey. She further says, "If it wasn't for hope, the heart would fail".
Editing by Dr. Kenneth Holmes and David Duniway brilliant. Introduction by Dr. Ruth Moynihan excellent.

Lively, energetic accounts full of grit and substance from the women who migrated west in 1853 and 1854. To mention a few:
Amelia Knight details river fordings; the vast numbers of dead cattle with their ensuing stench; wagons, chains, yokes, etc. strewn along the trail; the wind and sand ("them that eat the most breakfast, eat the most sand"). She gave birth to her eighth child towards journey's end. Writes with much clarity.
Celinda Hines had the attributes of a young naturalist. Her descriptions of scenery, landforms, wildflowers, etc. are most touching. When her father drowned along the Boise River, her final entry for the day was a haunting "wolves howled".
A very religious and optimistic Hannah Tapfield King began the journey "happy, blessed and content". By the time she reached the Fort Laramie area she was feeling dismayed, dejected and weary. Quite understandable. A deep thinker.
This is another excellent book in the Covered Wagon Women series.

Perseverance and hope once again take the form of westbound emigrants. Some turned back but many made it to their destinations. We taste the dust, thirst for the next water hole, anticipate grass availability for livestock, put up with wagon breakdowns and river crossings, fear Indian insurrections and above all lament the deaths of fellow travelers.
A few of these diaries contain basic day to day routine occurrences across the now well traveled road to the west, but nonetheless still admirable journals of endurance.
Others like Ruth Shackleford and Mary Louisa Black are much detailed and articulate in what they observed and how they felt while crossing the plains. Signs of Indian depredations, horrendous Platte River storms, sickness and death amongst companion emigrants, stampedes, geographical descriptions, conditions of roads, encounters with the `Buffalo Soldiers' and others along the trail all make for colorful and regarded reading.
Another fine volume in this series.

Vol. 10 in a series of faithfully transcribed diaries and letters of women who traveled West via covered wagon, this book describes travel at a time when many others were going west via the railroads. Time had altered the circumstances of covered wagon travel: the travelers were not isolated, they had opportunities to avail themselves of hotels, suppliers, etc., along well-marked trails. However, the trip was not without its heartaches and hardships. I recommend reading the entire series, to get a true understanding of the great American Western migration.

Another excellent volume in the Kenneth Holmes' Covered Wagon Women Series. Although westward going emigrants of the 1860's had more conveniences than their predecessors (stage stations, military outposts, etc.) life on the trail during this time period still had its misfortunes and nerve-racking adventures. For one thing, Indian uprisings were frequent and oftentimes brutal. Even though these women were not in direct contact with Indian skirmishes, they nonetheless make reference of them.
To cite a few diaries included in this volume:
Twenty-nine year old Louisa Cook's 1862 journal has an upbeat and optimistic attitude on trail travel. Besides the usual wagons for travel, her party also had an omnibus (twelve passenger wagon frequently used in cities). She is very down to earth regarding day to day activities, river fordings, Platte River storms, descriptions of Indian villages, how people treat their stock, etc. In fact she said that she enjoyed the "gypsy life" within reason.
Ellen Tootle, who was well off financially, traveled in fashion to Denver in 1862 with high quality Missouri mules pulling the wagon. She and her husband were on their honeymoon to check the possibility of expanding his dry-goods business in Colorado. She is very descriptive of many features of trail travel, early beginnings of Denver and the gold mining in that area.
Mary Elizabeth Lightner's 1863 diary to Salt Lake City is a dismal and pessimistic view on travel. The poor woman never seemed to be very content.
Elizabeth Elliott's heartfelt letter of 1863 mentions the loss of several children in her train, along with her own son.
Harriet Loughary's 1864 diary is very keen and descriptive of the day to day journey with mention of Indian behavior and rebellions, graves along the trail, etc.
Lucretia Epperson's party of 1864 drove many quality horses to California. Her diary is very "salt of the earth".
Mary Ringo's 1864 diary has to be one of the most despairing of all. Quite understandable after her husband accidentally shot himself and died. Two months later she gives birth to a disfigured still-born.
And then their was thirteen-year old Harriet Hitchcock whose demeanor on life was candid, humorous and a delight to read.
Another must read in this series.