Review by Choice Review
Richter's unusual and useful synthesis of North American history between 1000 and 1763 begins by showing how global climate developments initially shaped parallel human patterns in North America and Europe. Then social and political currents diverged and shaped Europe's initial "crusade" in North America. After 1600, traders brought warfare and epidemics along with prestige goods to Natives, but the more significant damage came with English efforts to gain "patriarchal landed power" in Virginia and New England and the policies of Charles II that established new colonies and "profoundly, violently transformed North America." At this point, Richter (Dickinson College) focuses on how, into the mid-1700s, imperial administrators opposed provincial assemblies, promoted slavery and liberty of conscience, and increased England's power and military strength in the long global war with France. Though these policies could have stabilized relations with Indians, the unceasing efforts by Colonial elites and settlers to take more Native land exploded in terrible backcountry violence left unsettled by the Treaty of Paris. Richter concludes by reflecting on the often-contradictory conditions of the Colonial US--power and freedom, bigotry and liberty--and their reflections in the modern US. Summing Up: Recommended. All levels/libraries. D. R. Mandell Truman State University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
In Facing East from Indian Country: A Native History of Early America, Richter (American history, Univ. of Pennsylvania) offers a nuanced study of the United States from the arrival of Europeans to the Jacksonian era through the prism of its Native American inhabitants; here, as in his former book, he uses the American Revolution as a demarcation point. He demonstrates that U.S. history did not begin with the American Revolution, convincingly arguing that the ideas that manifested themselves in the mid-18th century with the rebellious colonists had their origins in such varied locales as the Mississippian Southeast and Europe of the Middle Ages. Conflicting Christian religious ideas sprouted from Catholic conquistadors and multiple groups of Protestants. Influences came not only from Europeans but Native Americans and Africans. Although many of these peoples were subjugated and in some cases exterminated over time, Richter shows that they still made a lasting contribution to the story of what would eventually become the United States. VERDICT Any history written by this preeminent historian is an essential read for everyone interested in the deeper history of the United States.-John Burch, Campbellsville Univ. Lib., KY (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Readers will find little ancient history in this deceptively titled work, but rather a lucid, thought-provoking history of North America to the 1760s.Dreams of the conquistadores' riches influenced British, French and Dutch explorers after 1492, but Richter (Early American Studies/Univ. of Pennsylvania; Facing East from Indian Country: A Native History of Early America, 2001, etc.) emphasizes that imperialism, trade and religious proselytism made an equally powerful contribution. For 150 years after Columbus, European arrivals in North America paid little attention to farming (and often starved as a result) but found trading profitable. The author downplays the traditional picture of early settlers driving hapless Indians off their lands. Exchanging a beaver skin for knives or guns seemed like taking candy from a baby to Native Americans. Obsessed with trading, many migrated toward, not away, from white settlements, fighting to expel tribes in direct contact with traders. Matters changed after 1700 with the Dutch out of the picture and France marginalized; Britain dominated seaborne commerce, commodity prices rose, African slaves poured in and Parliament began an intense, but unsuccessful, effort to convert the fractious colonies into a dependable revenue stream. Once land ownershipa mystery to Native Americansand agriculture became the dominant source of profit, most Americans wanted Indians out of the way. Richter emphasizes that Europeans often treated each other as nastily as they treated other cultures.An astute, thoroughly enjoyable mixture of political, economic and social history that culminates in a turbulent 18th-century North America whose people did not consider themselves on the verge of revolution but knew that things were not right.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
