Legends, Traditions, and Laws of the Iroquois, or Six Nations and History of the Tuscarora Indians

Legends, Traditions, and Laws of the Iroquois, or Six Nations and History of the Tuscarora Indians Review

Legends, Traditions, and Laws of the Iroquois, or Six Nations and History of the Tuscarora Indians Overview

BY ELIAS JOHNSON, A NATIVE TUSCARORA CHIEF. INTRODUCTION. "A book about Indians!"—who cares anything about them? This will probably be the exclamation of many who glance on my little page. To those who know nothing concerning them, a whole book about Indians will seem a very prosy affair, to whom I can answer nothing, for they will not proceed as far as my Preface to see what reasons I can render for the seeming folly. But to those who are willing to listen, I can say that the Indians are a very interesting people, whether I have made an interesting book about them or not. The Antiquarian, the Historian, and the Scholar, have been a long time studying Indian character, and have given plenty of information concerning the Indian, but it is all in ponderous volumes for State and College libraries, and quite inaccessible to the multitude—those who only take up such book as may be held in the hand, sitting by the fire,—still remain very ignorant of the Children of Nature who inhabited the forests before the Saxon set his foot upon our shores. There is also a great deal of prejudice, the consequence of this ignorance, and the consequence of the representations of your forefathers who were brought into contact with the Indians, under circumstances that made it impossible to judge impartially and correctly. The Histories which are in the schools, and from which the first impressions are obtained, are still very deficient in what they relate of Indian History, and most of them are still filling the minds of children and youth, with imperfect ideas. I have read many of the Histories, and have longed to see refuted the slanders, and blot out the dark pictures which the historians have wont to spread abroad concerning us. May I live to see the day when it may be done, for most deeply have I learned to blush for my people. I thought, at first, of only giving a series of Indian Biographies, but without some knowledge of the government and religion of the Iroquois, the character of the Indians could not be understood or appreciated. I enter upon the task with much distrust. It is a difficult task at all times to speak and to write in foreign language, and I fear I shall not succeed to the satisfaction of myself, or to my readers. My title will not be so attractive to the American ears, as if it related to any other unknown people. A tour in Arabia, or Spain, or in India, or some other foreign country, with far less important and interesting material, would secure a greater number of readers, as we are always more curious about things afar off. I might have covered many pages with "Indian Atrocities," but these have been detailed in other histories, till they are familiar to every ear, and I had neither room nor inclination for even a glance at war and its dark records.

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The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness

The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness Review

The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness. Author: Harlow G. Unger. 400 pages. 2009

Nicholle brought this book home from the library with the intent to read it herself. I picked it up off the stack and proceeded to read it. I had little interest in James Monroe until I visited and toured his estate Ash Lawn-Highland in Charlottesville, VA a few years ago. My interest was piqued less by his presidency than by his house and lifestyle.

This book fills in some of the gaps. My previous knowledge had been limited to: The Monroe Doctrine, His estate, and his actions at the Crossing of the Delaware and his actions and grievous wounding at the subsequent attack on Trenton by the Continental Army. Beyond that I knew little or nothing.

The book is a breezy, easy, quick read which surprised me considering the subject and the era. Monroe in philosophy and style stands in the middle of two great titans of the era, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Monroe like many of the founding generation remained in awe of Washington his entire life. Yet, he was a protégé of Jefferson and a very close friend. Monroe seemed politically more inclined in form to follow the examples of Washington then the Republican virtues of Jefferson.

The book offers great insight into the interpersonal relations and passions of the founding era. The free and easy exchange of assistance between these men was a revelation. Not just letters of introduction, advice, patronage etc but real money. Often friendships and support crossed political disputes. Politics was a passionate vocation, in many ways more so than today.

This book does pay homage to Monroe, his fellows, his life, and his legacy. The author has an affinity for Monroe and seeks to present his life and legacy in a positive manner. But the presentation is not hagiography, the author is critical especially near the end of Monroe's presidency. Too often modern writers adopt the jaded pundits habit of being hyper-critical at all stages. Monroe was an accomplished man who was deeply and widely involved in the founding of our nation. His accomplishments even when not as the main actor seem almost mythical when we look at current politicians. No other President of the US, except for possibly George H. W. Bush, had as long and as varied of a government career. Some times the depth and breadth of Monroe's accomplishments seem unreal in the modern context and critics using modernity as the mirror seek to find others.

Monroe's accomplishments and influence deserve more study and acknowledgement. He was the last of the founding fathers to be President, and he was the first true foreign policy President. This book is a good introduction to both the man and his presidency.

The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness Overview

In this lively and compelling biography Harlow Giles Unger reveals the dominant political figure of a generation. A fierce fighter in four critical Revolutionary War battles and a courageous survivor of Valley Forge and a near-fatal wound at the Battle of Trenton, James Monroe (1751–1831) went on to become America’s first full-time politician, dedicating his life to securing America’s national and international durability.

Decorated by George Washington for his exploits as a soldier, Monroe became a congressman, a senator, U.S. minister to France and Britain, governor of Virginia, secretary of state, secretary of war, and finally America’s fifth president. The country embraced Monroe’s dreams of empire and elected him to two terms, the second time unanimously. Mentored by each of America’s first four presidents, Monroe was unquestionably the best prepared president in our history.

Like David McCullough’s John Adams and Jon Meacham’s recent book on Andrew Jackson, this new biography of Monroe is both a solid read and stellar scholarship—history in the grand tradition.

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Oct 09, 2010 07:11:05