THE SOUTHERN FRONTIER

by John Anthony aruso ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 17, 1963

The Gulf States east of the Mississippi form the ""Southern Frontier"" of this lengthy book, Vol. III in the author's comprehensive ""American Frontier"" series; like its companion volumes, The Appalachian Frontier and The Great Lakes Frontier, it is ased on contemporary sources. The author includes now the present-day states of Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina; quoting from original sources, he describes the trials and tragedies of the early explorers in these regions and those of the colonists who came after them. England, France and Spain squabbled over rights of possession; Indians and whites killed each other; in Florida Spanish Catholics massacred French Huguenots. Times improved, however, even with the bursting of the Mississippi Bubble in France in 1720, which ruined thousands. Canada traded with Louisiana and New Orleans; plantations spread and industry increased; in Georgia the Wesleys preached Methodism to indentured settlers. After the Revolution Indian troubles grew worse, to be ended by the campaigns of Andrew Jackson; grandiose schemes blossomed; slavery spread and slave-breeding turned to a domestic industry deplored even by slave-holders. In 1845 Florida, the last of the ""Southern Frontier"", was admitted to the Union as a slave state. The excessive length of this somewhat diffuse volume will defeat all but students and professional historians, but its source material and extensive bibliography will make it a valuable reference book for those interested in the early history of the Southern States.

Pub Date: June 17, 1963

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Bobbs-Merrill

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1963

Categories: NONFICTION