Pulitzer Prize–winning historian David McCullough
rediscovers an important and dramatic chapter in the American story—the
settling of the Northwest Territory by dauntless pioneers who overcame
incredible hardships to build a community based on ideals that would come to
define our country.
As part of the Treaty of Paris, in which Great Britain
recognized the new United States of America, Britain ceded the land that
comprised the immense Northwest Territory, a wilderness empire northwest of the
Ohio River containing the future states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan,
and Wisconsin. A Massachusetts minister named Manasseh Cutler was instrumental
in opening this vast territory to veterans of the Revolutionary War and their
families for settlement. Included in the Northwest Ordinance were three
remarkable conditions: freedom of religion, free universal education, and most
importantly, the prohibition of slavery. In 1788 the first band of pioneers set
out from New England for the Northwest Territory under the leadership of
Revolutionary War veteran General Rufus Putnam. They settled in what is now
Marietta on the banks of the Ohio etc. etc. river
McCullough chose a small number of people who provided the
leadership in this vast settlement of the Northwest Territories. They might not
be so well known in the broader scope of American history but as he wrote the
communities that evolved were based on the ideals that would come to define our
country. For example those who lobbied the Congress of the United States then
based at the very beginning in New York City that slavery not be allowed in the
new territories and states. Or that public education schools and universities
following the New England model would be nurtured and supported by land grants
based on federal. As people flooded by the thousands into the Ohio River Valley
and also came from overseas a new world was being created for settlement and
trade. Trade up and down the river and even worldwide with new technologies
changing transportation dramatically like steam engines and so on. It was
mostly all new to me and as McCullough often does he made it personal and very
interesting I definitely recommend it.
Sounds like a good read.
ReplyDeleteI like history and this sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteHi Ray - I remember David McCullough from somewhere ... so at some stage I might well get out one of his books to learn more - he's obviously an excellent historian. Thanks for this and hope that you're able to have a peaceful Thanksgiving - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI must read this. Another brilliant piece of the Northwest Territory, in my opinion, was the building blocks of government, the smallest unit of which was townships. No other form of government in this country is so close to the people it represents.
ReplyDeleteHi Ray
ReplyDeleteIsn't it odd and interesting how sometimes history seems to have taken a back step....I mean we think of 'history' as progress: we do one or two things, then do something else, and....progress. That doesn't seem to be the case, does it.
Looks like good book. Hope you're well.
Mike
This does sound an interesting chapter of American history. A good author makes all the difference. Thanks for the suggestion! No worries about your wayward comment last month and thanks for today's update. I one upped you: I actually forgot about book group and had to scramble to post a review of Stacey Lee's historical novel, which is now up.
ReplyDeleteI was a history major in college. My emphasis for US history was the Civil War, but I also picked Mexican history and the High Middle Ages for my other two areas of emphasis. I know why I picked the first two, the last one I can't remember why, but it was interesting. - Margy
ReplyDeleteWell, you've certainly influenced my reading! Hence my review of nonfiction, history this month! :) Thank you, Ray, for your interesting reviews!
ReplyDelete