Atlas of Westward Expansion [Paperback]

Alan Wexler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1995

A gripping narrative of the United States move West in fulfillment of "our Manifest Destiny," this volume begins with an overview of the New World and the European powers that were competing for its domination, then details key events in eight chronologically arranged chapters. Includes 100 two-color maps, 70 photos, and 30 drawings.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA?Text and maps tell the story of America's growth from 1754 to the early 1900s. Chapters are logically and chronologically grouped by appropriate eras with subdivisions providing access to regions or topics. Boxed inserts highlight people and inventions. The readable narrative, which makes up about half of the book, is suitable for students working on research papers. Black-and-white drawings of tools or houses are helpful. Maps are clear and usually involve two shades of blue; when necessary for additional differentiation, cross-hatching is used. Some reproductions of original maps add historical flavor, but are more difficult to read. Black-and-white photographs are well reproduced. The detailed index is especially helpful, as it indicates whether readers will locate a map or text.?Claudia Moore, W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

The excellent clarity of the maps in this volume is supplemented by well-written historical text, resulting in an outstanding effort to condense some 150 years of diplomatic, military, racial, and social events into a clear picture of the expansion of our country from the Alleghenies to the Pacific. Told with lucidity, the story is brought forward to the beginning of the twentieth century, the Indian Territory and Oklahoma land openings being the highlight of its first decade.

In addition to nearly 100 part-page and full-page maps throughout, there are several contemporary photographs, such as one of Kit Carson and an 1860 photo of men working in the Comstock Mine. There are also original pen-and-ink drawings of objects that formed a part of everyday life for both Indian and whites, such as a Blackfoot bow and arrow, a gentleman's beaver hat, and a gold-digger's shovel. Side boxes contain interesting information, not necessarily connected with the adjoining text. One box is about the famous Army Camel Brigade, begun by Jefferson Davis, while another covers the misfortunes of the Donner party.

Supplementing the text are two appendixes, a three-page bibliography, and an index of names and subjects. Appendix A is a listing of the states as they entered the Union, either as states or territories. Appendix B is a year-by-year summary of the principal events from 1750 to 1917 that affected westward expansion. There are some minor inaccuracies in this chronology. It was not in 1825, but 1826, that Jedediah Smith made his remarkable journey from northern Utah to California, the first American to enter it overland from the states. And it was in 1827, not 1826^-37, that he made his second trip--1837 is obviously a typographical error.

Much of the historical narrative in this volume may also be found in standard texts, but seldom has there been, in our stories of "how the West was won," so happy a combination of fine maps with such clear, easy-to-read text. Recommended for all public and academic libraries. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Checkmark Books (September 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816032068
• ISBN-13: 978-0816032068
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,513,770 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lucid, illuminating, and fascinating, January 31, 2001

By 

Eric H. Roth "English teacher/conversationali... (Venice Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Atlas of Westward Expansion (Paperback)

Imagine a 100 maps, arranged in chronological order, to resemble time lapse snapshots showing the growth and growing pains of the United States. Depicting explorers' routes, Native American homelands, changing population densities, and many other vital aspects of expansion, this provides colorful details about the transistion from red men and buffalo to white men and cattle. I was particularly impressed by the pen and ink drawings and the unusual collection of black and white photographs.

A final chapter, The Real Significance of the Frontier," gave me a new apprecition for the circles of conflicts that drove westward expansion: North vs South; West vs. East; and individuals vs big government and big business.

I wish I had read this book in high school or college. It would have provided a depth that was often lacking from boilerplate American history textbooks.