Frontier Profit and Loss: The British Army and the Fur Traders, 1760-1764 (Contributions in American History) [Hardcover]

Walter S. Dunn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 30, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0313306052 | ISBN-13: 978-0313306051

By 1760, with the alleviation of the French threat to the western frontier, colonial fur traders headed west to reap the bounty of trade with the local tribes. However, when dissatisfied French interests conspired to instigate a revolt, the resulting Pontiac Uprising would force the British to rethink colonial trade policy. The fur traders, who had considered the British government their ally in exploiting the west, now saw the British allying themselves with the French and local tribes to keep the colonists out of the region. The prominent merchants who suffered financially and received no compensation would soon come to oppose British rule. The fur trade and land speculation were two driving forces in the westward spread of merchant interests, but the promise of such riches would remain unfulfilled. Regulation of the trade would prove an enormous expense for the British; thus, to avoid the financial burden as well as to remove ill-treatment of the Native Americans as a cause for conflict, the Proclamation of 1763 prohibited settlement west of the mountains. The resulting dissatisfaction among the traders and speculators cost the British the support of colonial merchants. This book is an informative account of the interaction of economic, political, and social concerns on the western frontier.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Frontier Profit and Loss offers an in-depth look at a pivotal period in the relationship between Great Britain and her American colonies. The author combines economic and military history in a concise, well-researched narrative. For the student of American colonial history, this work will prove a valuable asset.”–Military History of the West

“The strenghts of the book lie in its attention to areas that previously had not been fully examined. The American colonial fur trade is difficult to study due to the lack of a body of dian trade. But records of trading companies do exist, such as those of Bayton, Wharton, and Morgan, which can be used to provide some information on the structure of the trade and the volume of goods traded, and Dunn makes use of these sources.”–The Journal of Economic History

“..With his tightly written prose, Dunn explores a fascinating mercantile world of the eighteenth century. From a dedicated Scottish trading enclave in Canada to a cosmopolitan network of Jewish merchants in New York and Philadelphia, Dunn examines the complexities and interrelationships of numerous groups like the "Albany Traders" (a remnant of Dutch power up the Hudson), the benevolent Quaker government of Pennsylvania, the French establishment throughtout North America, the British Indian Service, and the British Army.”–The Journal of Military History, Oct. 1999

“Massive research has gone into the preparation of this work. Much of the information obtained is of great value to historians....Each chapter contains detailed end notes usually of primary sources. The charts are valuable....For those interested in very detailed information and statistics on the fur trade and the frontier in North America between 1760 and 1764, the book is for you....It is highly recommended for those who specialize in the colonial period of American history.”–Military and Naval History Journal

“Frontier Profit and Loss is a useful book for scholars interested in the complicated world of the fur trade. Readers will benefit from Dunn's discussion of the financial structure of the trade and the evolution of British attempts to create effective measures to regulate it.”–William and Mary Quarterly

“With his tightly written prose, Dunn explores a fascinating mercantile world of the eighteenth century....Dunn grounds his study almost entirely in primary materials of the period. His use of statistics and charts in nicely integrated into the narrative; his attempt to give signicant financial data a contemporary value, namely 1998 dollars, is a useful and helpful addition. Dunn successfully finds value and life in what he suggests many other historians dismss as "mostly financial records."”–The Journal of Military History

About the Author

WALTER S. DUNN, JR. served as a museum director for forty years. His posts included the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society and the Iowa Science Center. His books include Kursk: Hitler's Gamble, 1943 (Praeger, 1997), The Soviet Economy and the Red Army (Praeger, 1997), Hitler's Nemesis (Praeger, 1994), and Second Front Now (Praeger, 1981).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 216 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press (May 30, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313306052
• ISBN-13: 978-0313306051
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,630,774 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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