26 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
History of Early Texas, June 6, 2006
This review is from: The Conquest of Texas: Ethnic Cleansing in the Promised Land, 1820-1875 (Hardcover)
Professor Anderson has written a highly detailed account of early Texas history. His research and relating of detail is superb! I have found details in his book never seen before anywhere. He does have a strong bias in his writing that leans toward the native American's point of view (which is fine), and against various "white" men and groups (Texas rangers mainly). Overlooking this minor complaint, his book is excellant, and I am glad to have it as a reference. Not a "light read" at all, very detailed, almost like reading a thesis. Congratulations to Prof. Anderson for a well documented, well researched book. (the only claim I found objectionable thus far on page 127 where he claims Plains Indian societies never shot down women and children among their own....not true...see the Harrell archaeological site in Texas)
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ethnic Cleansing in Texas - a lasting tragedy, September 9, 2011
This review is from: The Conquest of Texas: Ethnic Cleansing in the Promised Land, 1820-1875 (Hardcover)
I came to Texas in 2007 and it is, by any means, a great state with great people. Diversity in all areas is noted. Have read several books on Texas history but this one tops all others, as pertains to the 19th century events. One cannot read this incisive book without getting a painful gut feeling about the violence, humiliation and outright barbarian practices of both the Anglos, Native Americans and others. This book is not for the "faint-hearted" but for those who want to see the hard-core truth of what really happened. It is both revealing yet riveting and heart-breaking. It gets a big 5-star rating.
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7 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Detailed History, yes. But maybe too detailed, December 30, 2009
This review is from: The Conquest of Texas: Ethnic Cleansing in the Promised Land, 1820-1875 (Hardcover)
Professor Anderson tests the mythology of Texas Rangers battling depraved Indians against historical documents, and finds that it is built on nothing at all. The truth is, virtually all of the so called attacks by Native American tribes were created out of nothing, either by newspapers hungry to sell papers (an art form perfected by Hearst at the time of the Spanish American War), or by politicians seeking votes (reminding me of nothing so much as Bush's run-up to Iraq). The Rangers were basically in it for the plunder, and thus had a huge incentive to exaggerate every incident on the frontier, and in many cases, simply disguised themselves as tribal warriors as they raided fellow Texans.
Combine this with repeated promises made by those very same politicians to tribal chiefs of territory which various tribes would be able to occupy as "theirs" "forever," if they would only move off of whatever land Texans wanted at that moment. Most of these agreements never were implemented by Texans at all--and those that were implemented, were simply discarded as soon as population expansion put pressure on the "reserved" area.
As Professor Anderson points out at the end, the real problem was that Texas politicians never were willing to concede that Native Americans had any legitimate right to live in Texas at all. The prevailing idea from the outset was that they should simply leave...and they ultimately did.
The big flaw in this book is that the evidence Professor Anderson marshals is so detailed that a lay reader gets bogged down. There are only so many names (on all sides) that you can keep straight. None of the characters really come alive as feeling, dreaming people--all are simply cut-outs acting on a historical stage.
By the way, ethnic cleansing is exactly the right phrase. It was not genocide--the goal never was to kill every Native American--only to get them all out of Texas. It was also not a war--virtually every "battle" consisted of armed cavalry storming through undefended Native American villages, randomly shooting into tents as the occupants (mainly women and children) slept. The Rangers rarely attacked armed warrior groups, and when they did, they were often beaten.
Highly recommended for anyone who wants a detailed, serious history of the expansion of the anglo government control over what is now Texas. Not for the casual reader.
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