Causes of Conflicts

Native Americans and Early Settlers

PRINT RESOURCES

Native American testimony : an anthology of Indian and White relations ; first encounter to dispossession / edited by Peter Nabokov ; pref. by Vine Deloria, Jr.

WCLS Link

Primary Sources.

"YA-- A collection of primary-source material, grouped by key issues that arose during 500 years of Indian and white encounters in North America. Nabokov uses traditional narratives, old government transcripts, reservation newspapers, and firsthand interviews to highlight this chronological volume. Photographs appear throughout, making Indian history come alive. An extensive source section and index complete this volume." SLJ

Chronicle of the Indian wars : from colonial times to Wounded Knee / Alan Axelrod 

WCLS Link

"Axelrod, the author of a number of books on the West and the Civil War, offers a comprehensive popular account of the Euro-American conquest of Native Americans. His book is nicely illustrated and contains interesting sidebars. It also provides an extensive bibliography of secondary sources. ..."  Daniel Liestman, Seattle Pacific Univ. Lib. Copyright Library Journal™ - 1993. Used with permission.

North American Indian wars / Don Nardo, book editor.

WCLS Link

"Gr 9 Up-This anthology of 17 compelling essays describes the devastating impact of western expansion on the Native American civilizations. Before the Europeans came to North America there were "...at least 1 million Indians, organized into some six hundred separate, flourishing tribes." By the end of the Indian Wars in the 1890s, the native population was less than 400,000. These accessible 5-to-14 page articles are introduced with a concise summary outlining the essay's main points and giving some background on the event, policy, or belief, as well as information about the author. The selections focus on the differences between the Native and white cultures, significant confrontations, and the impact and legacy of the wars. Excerpts from primary sources; an extensive, topically arranged list for further reading; a four-page chronology; and a comprehensive index add to the value of this resource. Useful as report and debate material, and for those interested in Native American history." Copyright 1999 Library Journal.

Warpaths : invasions of North America / Ian K. Steele.

WCLS Link

"... Steele provides a fresh perspective in analyzing Native American/European conflicts from the sixteenth century to the close of the French and Indian War in 1763. Steele rejects the current tendency to portray Native Americans as confused, doomed victims who were inevitably overwhelmed by a more aggressive and technologically advanced culture. Rather, the indigenous peoples of the eastern woodlands were themselves often quite aggressive. They were diverse and politically sophisticated and frequently gave as good as they got in conflicts with Europeans. Many tribes became experts at playing the French and English off against each other. Steele pays full tribute to the cultural strengths of those tribes without sentimentalizing them, and he avoids demonizing Europeans".

~Jay Freeman from Booklist.

EBOOKS

The Wild Frontier: Atrocities During the American-Indian War from Jamestown Colony to Wounded Knee by William M. Osborn

Nook | Kindle | EPUB

"Characterizing the years between 1622 and 1890 as the era of the American-Indian War, Osborn provides a balanced analysis of the vicious atrocities committed by white settlers and Native Americans during the prolonged period of westward expansion. Employing a vast multitude of long-overlooked eyewitness accounts, he manages to debunk both the traditional myth of the settlers as valorous and intrepid pioneers and the revisionist view of the Indians as noble, morally superior victims .... the detailed narrative retains an admirable objectivity, considering the controversial nature of the subject matter. A scholarly and necessarily graphic view of a grim aspect of frontier life. Margaret Flanagan ~ Booklist Copyright ©ALA All rights reserved"

Revolutionary War

PRINT

The American revolutionaries : a history in their own words, 1750-1800 / edited by Milton Meltzer

WCLS Link

"Gr 5 Up Once again Meltzer employs primary source material to make an era come alive. Here, he depicts the American Revolution from the point of view of its participants: its soldiers, its leaders, those who waited at home. Included are excerpts from letters, journals, reports, and official documents, all placed in context by Meltzer's concise and well written introductions which, in themselves, constitute a clear overview of American history from the 1750s to the 1780s.  Readers need to keep in mind that the purpose of this book is to give the rebel point of view. Balanced accounts exist elsewhere. This tells why one third of the colonies stood up to rebel, and it does so unforgettably. ~Christine Behrmann, New York Public Library." School Library Journal

American Revolution. Primary sources / Linda Schmittroth ; Lawrence W. Baker and Stacy A. McConnell, editors

WCLS Link

"This excellent set is for students... researching the American Revolution...  Primary Sources presents 32 excerpted documents, beginning with the 1765 Stamp Act and ending with Washington's farewell address to the Continental Army in 1783. Each entry has helpful material to give the context for the document. The adjoining margins contain definitions of terms that may be unfamiliar. This set is attractive and easy to use. It gives broad coverage of the era, not just of the war... From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission."

American Revolution. Almanac / Barbara Bigelow and Linda Schmittroth ; Stacy A. McConnell, editor.

WCLS Link

"This excellent set is for students ... who are researching the American Revolution.  Almanac is composed of 12 chapters that cover background leading up to the war, the war's development, and its end. Chapter titles include "Literature and Arts in the Revolutionary Era," "Assembling an Army," and "Native Americans and Blacks in the American Revolution." Illustrations, sidebars, a time line, glossary, and activity ideas enhance the value of the volume. ... The adjoining margins contain definitions of terms that may be unfamiliar. This set is attractive and easy to use. It gives broad coverage of the era, not just of the war... from Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission."

The American Revolution / Don Nardo.

WCLS Link

"Gr 8 Up.  This book, written in the style of the "Opposing Viewpoints" series, offers a unique picture of the United States during the American Revolution. Three topics are debated in the first person as they would have been in the 1700s: "Prewar Disputes," "Patriotic Versus Loyalist Views," and "Wartime Concerns." In the final chapter, modern historians debate the meaning of the revolution ... Black-and-white reproductions round out the text. The appendix excerpts pertinent historical documents. A chronology of events, study questions, and an annotated list of further reading are also included. Allison Trent Bernstein, Blake Middle School, Medfield, MA" SLJ

The American Revolution / by Bonnie L. Lukes.

WCLS Link

"Gr 7 Up.   The material is well organized and basic historical facts are given thorough coverage. For students with no background in the subjects, these user-friendly titles make fine introductory choices. However, more informed readers or those looking for in-depth studies will have to look elsewhere. For example, Lukes does not explore the effects of the American Revolution on various minority groups such as women, blacks, indentured servants, or the unpropertied. Also, the Loyalist point of view is completely ignored.  Both books have average-quality black-and-white reproductions that for the most part are merely decorative. Nonetheless, these titles are concise and useful additions.  Robyn Nicoline Ryan, Otterville Public School, Ontario" 

Seeds of discontent : the deep roots of the American Revolution, 1650-1750 / J. Revell Carr.

WCLS Link

"Histories of the American Revolution typically begin with the French and Indian War and its aftermath, but Carr reaches back a century in time, to the 1650s. After the turmoil of its civil war, England discovered its North American possessions had loosened the reins a bit, asserted its authority, and encountered protests from the colonists, a cycle repeated over the ensuing 100 years. Culminating with Britain's 1748 retrocession to France of the Canadian fortress of Louisbourg, which had been captured by an American army, Carr recounts episodes in which the mother country trumped the colonists.--Taylor, Gilbert Copyright 2008 Booklist from Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission."

Almanacs of American life: Volume 2  Revolutionary America, 1763 to 1800 / Richard Balkin, general editor.

WCLS Link

"Densely packed with more than 400 tables, 100 black-and-white illustrations and maps, and much basic printed text, this book covers the American revolutionary period in 19 topical chapters. Most topics-geography, demographics, the economy, health, education, religion, science, the arts, popular culture, crime-receive adequate attention, with heavy emphasis on 'insight into everyday life'." Library Journal Review

eBOOKS

American Revolution: A History by Gordon S. Wood

Nook | Kindle

"So vast and various is the literature telling, explaining, or criticizing the establishment of our nation that anyone could benefit from an analytic summary of the panoramic event. Wood certainly provides that omniscient detachment from the welter of opinions, as is to be expected from one of the more highly regarded historians of the period. His polished narrative flow only enhances this work's appeal to readers, whether or not they are knowledgeable about the American Revolution.  A succinct, superbly written survey. Gilbert Taylor Booklist: Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved"

War of 1812

PRINT

The War of 1812 : second fight for independence / Alden R. Carter

WCLS Book

"Discusses the causes, events, campaigns, personalities, and aftermath of the War of 1812." BWI

War of 1812 / Kelly King Howes ; Julie L. Carnagie, editor"

WCLS Book

"...Much of the text is accompanied by material taken directly from primary source documents (papers and letters), adding interest and context in an attractive and inviting typical UXL format. ... The purpose of the work is to provide "students with a clear understanding of the issues . . . as well as the motivations" behind the war ... Readable text and excellent illustrations (many maps and National Archives photos) make this useful for ... the high-school level and up."  Booklist

eBook

The Naval War of 1812  By Theodore Roosevelt  (1882),

Google ebook  | Kindle

Mini classic secondary source.  May need supplementing with more authoritative sources.

The Fight for a Free Sea - The Sea War of 1812 by Ralph D. Paine

Kindle | Nook | PDF | EPUB

Another 'classic' secondary source.  Will need to be supplemented with modern resources.

DVD RESOURCES

The History Channel Presents The War of 1812 DVD ~Mark D. Hutter

Amazon Link | WCLS Link

"Contains the following full-length programs: First Invasion: The War Of 1812; Save Our History: Star Spangled Banner; The Battle Of New Orleans; Andrew Jackson: A Man For The People; and The Ironclads." from WCLS catalog.