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An American Genocide
The United States and the California Indian Catastrophe, 1846-1873
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An American Genocide
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
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Description
The first full account of the government-sanctioned genocide of California Indians under United States rule
Winner of the 2016 Los Angeles Times Book Award for History and a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice
“Gruesomely thorough. . . . Others have described some of these campaigns, but never in such strong terms and with so much blame placed directly on the United States government.”—Alexander Nazaryan, Newsweek
Between 1846 and 1873, California’s Indian population plunged from perhaps 150,000 to 30,000. Benjamin Madley is the first historian to uncover the full extent of the slaughter, the involvement of state and federal officials, the taxpayer dollars that supported the violence, indigenous resistance, who did the killing, and why the killings ended. This deeply researched book is a comprehensive and chilling history of an American genocide.
Madley describes pre-contact California and precursors to the genocide before explaining how the Gold Rush stirred vigilante violence against California Indians. He narrates the rise of a state-sanctioned killing machine and the broad societal, judicial, and political support for genocide. Many participated: vigilantes, volunteer state militiamen, U.S. Army soldiers, U.S. congressmen, California governors, and others. The state and federal governments spent at least $1,700,000 on campaigns against California Indians. Besides evaluating government officials' culpability, Madley considers why the slaughter constituted genocide and how other possible genocides within and beyond the Americas might be investigated using the methods presented in this groundbreaking book.
Series: The Lamar Series in Western History
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An American Genocide
The first full account of the government-sanctioned genocide of California Indians under United States rule Winner of the 2016 Los Angeles Times Book Award for History and a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice “Gruesomely thorough. . . . Others have described some of these campaigns, but never in such strong terms and with so much blame placed directly...Paperback$5399Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
An American Genocide by Benjamin Madley has been widely praised for its thorough documentation and compelling narrative on the genocide against Native Americans in California. Reviewers commend Madley's detailed examination of state and federal roles in these atrocities, presenting a revisionist perspective on American history. The book is celebrated for its rigorous scholarship, earning several prestigious awards for its significant contribution to the fields of Native American history and Genocide Studies.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780300230697
Publisher: Yale University Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 24 October 2017
Country: United States
Imprint: Yale University Press
Illustration: 72 b-w illus.
Audience: Tertiary education
DIMENSIONS
Width: 156.0mm
Height: 235.0mm
Weight: 658g
Pages: 520
About the Author
Benjamin Madley is associate professor of history, University of California, Los Angeles, where he focuses on Native America, the United States, and genocide in world history. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
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